"Six Simple Solutions to Enhance Your Working Environment"
By Linda Bailey, SPHR

More and more is being written about the importance of engaged employees - the ones who are actively involved in the success of your business. As the New Year is a popular time for resolutions, why don’t you consider a couple of simple, inexpensive New Year’s resolutions for your workplace?  They will help you create and/or enhance your working environment to attract and retain those valuable engaged employees.

 

1. Say good morning every morning.  If you do not visually see your employees every morning, leave an e-mail or voice-mail message.  Eventually you will get a fairly accurate reading for how your day is going to go by regularly checking in with all those employees who can affect your day, both positively and negatively.

 

2. Take notes regularly for good performance appraisals.  Start a new habit this year and do not let a week go by without some specific notations from you, in some file or folder, about each of your employees’ strengths and developmental needs, when appropriate.  One Caveat:  If something needs to change, don’t wait until performance appraisal time to talk.

 

3. Meet informally more often.  When you meet with your employees frequently, on an informal basis, a couple of things will happen.  The annual performance appraisal will be much easier and not so nerve-racking – therefore much more effective.  You will hear better ideas more frequently because you are creating the time and space (therefore the environment) to allow your employees to voice their ideas more easily.  When we don’t make time in the day-to-day grind for high-quality two-way communication, good ideas don’t have a habit of coming out.

 

4. Surprise them once in awhile - on an individual basis – when deserved.  Send them home early.  Give them something meaningful to them.  Make it something they tell everyone about.  Hint:  It’s probably not money.  One Caveat:  This means you have to know something about them personally.

 

5.  Ask them how their job might be done more effectively or efficiently and ask them more than once a year.  Ask what you’re doing to get in the way of their being as effective as they could be.  Ask them what would make them feel more engaged.  Our employees really do have some great ideas.  But you have to ask them.  It will rarely be volunteered.  One Caveat:  How you react to their suggestions, and what you do about them, will dictate the likelihood of any future suggestions.

 

6        Let them know you’re interested in helping them grow - ask what you could do to assist.  One of the best benefits employees look for when working for a company is professional and personal growth.  And it doesn’t have to be very formal.  Do they get an opportunity to work in other departments?  Do you take the time to find out what their future aspirations are?

 

You might notice communication seems to be a common denominator.  Many organizations say they do a great job communicating with their employees.  Formal communication methods are important but your employees won’t feel like they are being communicated with unless they get a chance to be heard!  Is any of your communication designed for a two-way conversation?  Do your employees every get asked for their opinion?  When they are asked for their input, is it taken seriously?  Is your environment safe to express an opinion which might not be popular or the way things have been done in the past?

 

Engaged employees want to be an integral part of your organization.  Is your organization and are you willing to create and/or enhance your environment to foster high involvement?  Simple - but not easy - these six resolutions will help.

Linda Bailey, SPHR, is a consultant, speaker, trainer and teacher in Human Resource issues facing employers, emphasizing the employer-employee relationship.  With a goal of "helping employers from needing employment lawyers", her expertise covers both crises intervention and continuing management solutions. Linda can be reached at (727) 528-0556 or e-mail at Linda@BaileyCG.com.  Her website is www.BaileyCG.com.