Undoubtedly, as a business owner or company CEO, you will feel wholeheartedly invested in making it a success – but when it comes to your staff, making them care as much as you do can be a challenge.
Today, the organisation experts at Action Storage are breaking down some effective tactics you can employ to develop a workforce that’s as deeply invested in the company as you are.
Look beyond financial motivation
While the traditional carrot (reward) and stick (reprimand) tactic is still considered an effective motivator within many organisations, there’s now compelling evidence suggesting employees want and need more than a substantial salary to feel invested and motivated.
Naturally, high remuneration is still a driving force behind improving employee performance and productivity – but the focus here is on the rewards, rather than the overall company vision. If you really want to make staff feel invested in your company, think beyond big salaries and bonuses. Start by focusing on implementing a fair pay structure that benefits all employees – demonstrating that you value every staff member for their efforts.
You can also look at introducing other incentives, such as health benefit schemes and training programmes. Offering staff the opportunity to expand their skillset and have an instrumental impact on company growth will lead to greater long-term investment from individuals.
Communicate your company vision
Although you’ll be all too familiar with your business’s vision and objectives, do your employees share the same level of understanding? A crucial part of getting your workforce to care in the same way you do is effectively communicating the company ethos and goals – inviting staff to own them, too. Rather than dictating what the objectives are, take a collaborative approach – encouraging everyone involved to take an active interest and feel motivated to achieve these goals. As a leader, it’s your job to facilitate collaboration amongst staff – creating a shared vision, rather than simply projecting your own.
Give your staff a voice
With a shared interest in the overall business goals, it’s possible to build on this by giving your employees a voice. If you truly want to prove that you care about your staff and hold their opinions in high regard, let them have a say in decisions that affect them directly. This doesn’t mean giving them free rein, but rather allowing them to express their ideas and concerns on aspects of how the business operates. This could be anything from having input on how office space is designed and used to putting forward ideas on improving internal procedures and practices – even small decisions can have a powerful impact, making staff feel more valued and empowered.
Consider offering a stake in the business
Image source: Pexels
Another key consideration is to look at offering staff members the chance to buy a stake in the business, as allowing employees to make a personal investment in the company could significantly improve individual motivation and performance. There’s a lot to be said for giving staff a genuine sense of ownership – and there’s no more powerful way to do this than by giving them a small piece of the company for which they work.
Value personal security and privacy
Whatever kind of business you operate, it’s your legal duty as an employer to provide a safe and healthy working environment to your staff. You can, however, take this to the next level, demonstrating to employees that you respect their right to privacy and security – whether that’s equipping them with office lockers to keep their valuables securely locked away or installing a more robust security system within the premises.
Create a culture of trust and openness
Company culture invariably plays a vital role in how employees feel regarding their work. Part of this comes from creating a collaborative business vision, but it’s also crucial to foster a sense of trust and transparency across the board. Allowing staff to have their say is one thing, but team members also need to feel that there’s a mutually trusting and transparent culture within the business. Trusting your employees to do their job effectively will nurture their feelings of empowerment, while respecting their employer’s actions and beliefs will increase their overall level of investment in the company.
The bottom line is that taking a holistic approach to incentivising staff is key. Building a unified business culture and implementing practices that unequivocally demonstrate the value of all team members will far exceed the impact that traditional rewards and punishments could ever have.
Further reading on staff
