EBizInsider

Provide Proper Training to Succeed
No one can do the right job without the right tools and training, no matter what the job. Make sure the training is focused and extensive, but make it work. Make it fun and compelling. If your employees are comfortable with the training you provide they will definitely stay more focused and motivated to succeed.

Atmosphere and Attitude Are Key
Do you listen to your people? Perhaps more important, do they talk to you? This is a crucial indicator of a happy work environment. Do your best to promote an atmosphere whereby employees can talk freely with any member of the management staff, offer ideas and make suggestions. The fact is, your people often know how to improve their jobs in ways that never occurred to you. Not only should they feel free to talk, you should encourage their feedback on a regular basis. Sadly, some people are shy about direct conversations. Make it easy for them. Suggestion boxes are a great way to harvest the input and ideas of people who are uncomfortable going directly to a member of management.

Team work is a strong spirit builder. And it is true; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The effective use of teams will result in happy employees whose combined decision-making solves more problems than having people go it alone. This makes you a better company, with your people sharing their wisdom and learning from others. This directly contributes to overall customer satisfaction.

Relax your dress code. To the extent your business allows, encourage casual wear. If you want a consistent look, use your imagination. Create some cool company t-shirts with your logo to hand out to employees.

Provide snacks. Candy, soda, fruit, doughnuts and the like may seem like a small thing. Don�t be fooled. One of the first things people will say about an office that has snacks on hand is �my office is cool�they have snacks!� It will cost you a few dollars to keep the soda flowing, but the payoff is immense. Not only will you be saving people time they might have spent shopping on their own, you�ll save them money and show you care.

Keep Employees Informed
How do you feel when you�re �in the loop�? You feel important and connected, don�t you? It�s the same for your people. Keep everyone current on all the exciting accomplishments of the month and what�s to come next month. Provide updates on company news in general. There are many ways you can do this through newsletters, e-mails or post on your internal intranet. If you want to go even further, have company lunches or dinners. This will take everyone away from the office monthly for a nice quarterly break.

Management Style
Avoid micro-managing if you can. Continuous fussing and meddling becomes a de-motivator for employees. That said; under-management is the overwhelming common denominator in low or below standard workplace performance at all levels. The under-managed worker struggles because his or her supervisor is not providing needed direction and support. When supervisors practice essential interpersonal skills, their behavior will result in happy employees whose work contributes to customer satisfaction.

It�s a simple equation: Happy Employees=Happy Customers=Happy Owners!