Engaging Employees through Genuine Care
Employees are people! They have individual lives, families and personal goals and hobbies. Successful managers know how to stay up to date with their employees’ personal lives. Congratulate them on a new car, get them a house warming gift, or a gift for a newborn, ask about their sick parent or spouse. Whatever is appropriate and will not be taken as imposing.
These are all ways to anyone’s heart, and the route to building genuine caring relationships. But as a manager, don’t stop there; encourage other team members to also show an interest in their fellow colleagues’ lives. Celebrate their personal milestones with the entire team. Small gestures can help in creating a bond between an employee and their manager which in turn increases their loyalty to the company.
If they’re still working from home, a great way to show employees you care about their wellbeing is by sending them self-care packages. These care packages can include vitamins, face masks, sanitizers and basic pantry items to spare them yet another risky trip to the supermarket or a simple bouquet of flowers. Maybe even a small box of chocolates. This is definitely guaranteed to please them.
“Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.”
– Anne M. Mulcahy
There is no time more critical than during a pandemic to demonstrate to your employees that you care. You care about their wellbeing and mental health above all. In times of uncertainty like these, it is also crucial to communicate how important your employees are to the company. A scared employee will not perform well. Reality sets in during difficult times and everyone is naturally scared for their position. It is vital to create a feeling of security among your teammates. This will not only ensure their loyalty but also give them the space to relax and focus on getting their jobs done properly instead of worrying about their next paycheck.
By the time Spring arrives, people will have been dealing with incredibly tough circumstances for over a year. Your employees will highly appreciate it if you take the time to acknowledge how hard and frustrating this year has been for everyone and even tragic for some people. Everyone has been or still is in survival mode, and it will be very comforting to know that you appreciate their efforts during these uncertain times and realise how much effort it takes to perform well during very unusual circumstances like these.
One other thing that a manager can utilize in their efforts to uplift his/her team is surprise gifts. Who doesn’t love random surprise gifts? Get your employees gifts for no reason except to show appreciation. This will have the biggest impact during high stress periods.
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