35 Strategies for a Happier Team

 Every employer knows that when you have your staff on board 100% and sharing your vision, then day to day activities just seem to go a whole lot smoother. Not only do you want your valuable staff to turn up to work everyday but you need them to love to come to work.

Illustration by REnjith Krishnan

Why is that so important?

It’s because when your staff love their job, it’s going to show in lots of different ways. It will most assuredly affect every facet of your business from customer service right through to improved quality of production and services and what that inevitably results in is higher profitability for your business. More satisfied customers generally always results in better business through repurchasing and referrals.
So, what can you do to make your staff feel this way? It’s very simple really but you do have to make the effort initially to introduce some of these truly simple concepts into your workplace. The results will be well worth the effort.
So, when was the last time you really thought about what your staff have to do in their jobs. When did you last put yourself in their shoes and try to understand what their life is really like?
Here are some really simple and exceptionally inexpensive ways for you to let your staff know that they are truly appreciated and part of your special team. Start implementing them today and watch the transformation happen in your team!

1. Get to know your staff and what excites them
2. Ask your staff about their aspirations and expectations.  Be interested in what matters to them.
3. Make sure your staff know what is expected of them.  Communicate well and often.
4. Find out what kind of training your staff would like to undertake and make it happen if you can. There is nothing worse than a staff member who is not trained and decides to stay in your employ.
5. Make sure your staff have all the tools that they need to do a really great job.  Poor tools results in poor results.
6. Ensure that their work is as interesting as possible by providing variety, increased responsibility, involvement in special projects or cross-training.
7. Never make a promise you cannot or will not keep. You will destroy the trust in your relationship.
8. Really listen (that means shutting upfor a minute) when they are speaking and ask good questions to show that you heard what they said.
9. Make team meetings fun and ask your staff to bring along some good ideas. Have team members chair the meetings and provide some team training.
10. Don’t make team meetings a time to dread for staff. Stay positive and never publicly criticise
11. Say “yes” as often as possible. Be receptive to new ideas and be enthusiastic
12. Encourage humour, laughter and an atmosphere of success in the work place.
13. Ask for their ideas and input across all aspects of salon management. Staff who have ownership of new ideas will embrace them with enthusiasm
14. Never criticise one staff member in front of another. Always encourage positive comments. This is team building not team destruction.
15. If staff are underperforming, find out what the real problem is and fix it
16. Say hello every morning when they arrive at work.
17. Say thankyou every day before they go home.
18. When staff bring you a problem, ask them to come up with their own solutions to overcome dependence
19. Reward staff performance with something that matters to them
20. Empower your staff to make great decisions. Train them in how to do this.
21. Send a birthday card to their home and include a handwritten message.
22. Organise a small birthday celebration amongst their peers and provide a cake!
23. When they’re angry, let them vent. Ask them what they think could be done to make things right.
24. Develop a social club or regular get togethers outside of work ( there is always a staff member who will love to set up and run a social club)
25. Take every opportunity to tell them when they have done a great job. You team will want to live up to the higher standard that they have set.
26. Let them teach you something.  You’ll be surprised at what they know!
27. Respect them and their time
28. Be understanding when your staff are having a bad day.  After all, we are all human.
29. Ask your staff for their feedback as often as possible.  Make them feel like their thoughts matter
30. Stay flexible. No one is right all the time.
31. Ask for their opinion when there is a problem and don’t rubbish what they think
32. If you are wrong, always say “sorry”
33. Make yourself available to them at all times
34. Lead by example. If you want your staff to have integrity they must see it in you 100% of the time
35. Smile….it’s contagious!

A favourite quote….

“We must become the change we want to see” Mahatma Gandhi
Wishing you prosperity and success  in 2011
Pam