Create your own loyal workforce
When you start your own business you often prioritise your business plan and your cash flow, which is obviously very important. But there are other factors you need to consider when it comes to the success of your business. Mainly, your staff.
A loyal staff can do so much for your business. When the people who work for you believe in what they’re doing, they work harder and they put the business first. They’re more likely to show up on time, take less sick leave, and do the best they can to make your business a success. So, how do you do it? How do you ensure your business has a loyal staff which will always do their utmost to ensure the best for your business?
Orientate new staff – Even if they have years of experience in your particular industry, they haven’t worked for your particular business before. They don’t know the company culture, they don’t know their new colleagues and they don’t know you. Hold an orientation so that they can get to know the place and the role they play in your company.
Celebrate old staff – Acknowledge the staff who have stuck with you since day one. The more you make them feel appreciated, the more likely it is that they’ll stay longer and remain loyal. Give them a title bump or more responsibility, so that they aren’t just doing the same work as the new employee you hired last week.
Give them a break – When a member of your staff requests leave and it’s granted, don’t call them to work (no matter how much they are needed). They’ve obviously requested leave for a reason, whether it’s for a big event or just for some much-needed downtime, so don’t take that away from them. Even if they say that they’re happy to come in, they may start to resent you for it.
Be reliable – Always pay them on time, no matter how busy you are or how the cash flow looks that month. And when you say you’re going to do something, like provide information or give them an evaluation, do it and do it when you say you will. Obviously, you’re busy and things can get hectic when you’re running your own business, but make a visible effort to get these things done.
Running your own business often means that you’re focused on the day-to-day as well as the big picture, but it can’t all be about cash flow and debit order collections. Staff retention is important and you have to give your employees enough reason to believe.
*This article is brought to you by DigiCash which provides debit order collection services.