It’s no secret teams who feel valued and are excited about their work will be more engaged. At ABC Supply, our focus has always been our people and ensuring they have the tools they need to be successful. That’s why we’re one of two companies worldwide to have earned 17 straight Gallup Exceptional Workplace Awards.
Building an employee-first culture doesn’t happen overnight; it’s an ongoing learning experience that takes hard work and dedication. Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to engage teams and help them thrive. Here are some tips on cultivating an employee-first culture.
1. Recognize That Different People Want Different Things Out Of Their Careers
Younger team members often place a higher priority on having a diversity of work to give them exposure to different roles, location flexibility and jobs that will increase their income. On the flip side, someone who has been in the industry for more than a decade may be more focused on finding stability, settling down in an area for the long term and looking for a better work-life balance. Understanding what each member of your team wants in their jobs and supporting them accordingly can go a long way to boosting their morale.
2. Help Your People Master Their Craft
From project management to skills-specific training, the benefits of providing ongoing education and professional development will often produce cross-trained people and better leaders, which ultimately deepens the strength of your team and sets your business up for more success. As people are learning new skills—and potentially making mistakes—make sure you’re patient and understanding. Experiential learning is a part of the process, and it is up to you to coach your team to get better.
3. Encourage Your Team Members to Share Ideas
Give your team the freedom to think creatively, be innovative and identify opportunities that ultimately benefit your business. At ABC Supply, an Entrepreneurial Spirit is one of our Core Values, and through it we challenge our associates to continuously improve by taking actions that benefit their branches and customers.
4. Listen to Your Team
Remember that effective communication is not a one-way street. As important as it is for you to pass along information to your team, it’s as important to listen when your employees come to you with a question, concern or idea. Even if you don’t agree with the idea or can’t make change, demonstrating your open-mindedness to at least hearing what the person thinks can go a long way toward creating a better working environment and building trust with your team.
5. Give Frequent Feedback
Those on your team — especially millennials and Gen Z—value honest, frequent feedback. They want to know how they’re doing, what they’re doing well, where they can improve and what their path is within the company. While annual evaluations are always a natural moment to discuss performance, some team members might prefer real-time feedback instead of waiting months to discuss it in a formal meeting.
6. Discuss Growth Opportunities
Giving feedback not only helps employees improve in the short term but also opens the door to conversations about how they can continue growing with your company in the long term. Growth opportunities play a major role for younger generations. According to Forbes, focusing on professional development is key to attracting and keeping a quality associate because it shows you’re invested in them.
7. If Someone Leaves, Have an Exit Interview
You may not know the reasons people choose to leave your company, so sitting down with them to talk about their employment experiences often results in straight, truthful feedback about what is or isn’t working. These honest conversations can help you identify the changes you need to make to grow and improve your employee engagement and culture.
Placing importance on employee satisfaction will help not only you but also your business. Having an open dialogue is a simple way to keep your team on board and content with their roles.
Visit ABC Supply’s blogs for more advice on how to successfully run your business.