Living in this VUCA world pretty much sums up the last 3 years. For those who don’t know what VUCA is, it means a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous environment – sounds about right doesn’t it? Each year we think we have seen it all, yet that element of surprise just keeps on surprising!
As employers and employees, how can we turn the VUCA world on its head?
Employers: Always remember to show your employees you value them.
Employees who know they are appreciated, feel valued. Similarly, when staff feel valued, they will go above and beyond to achieve success in their roles, and ultimately, your organization. Importantly, they’re happier in their roles and have a greater wellbeing, which means they’re less likely to leave.
When leaders miss the opportunities to connect with their team and show employees their appreciation, they lose a critical weapon in building a dedicated, long-term team.
Here are nine great ways to show your employees some appreciation:
1. Little things make a big difference.
You do not need expensive, extravagant gestures to show you appreciate individuals or teams. Send a note of appreciation, a quick email, make a call of encouragement, do a shout-out in team meetings, on LinkedIn or the Company’s social media. Little gestures make big impressions.
2. Create opportunities.
Give all employees as many opportunities as you can for growth, avenues to challenge themselves or to step outside their comfort zone. These elements are huge factors to an employee’s job satisfaction and overall wellbeing. Take small risks which let them take on challenges and showcase their abilities. This can be anything from letting someone get involved in a project which may not traditionally be in their scope of work, or stepping up into a leadership role. This simultaneously gives employees opportunities to learn new skills, which should be a consistent objective of yours.
3. Personalize it and be specific.
Be specific about your expressions of appreciation and recognition. Don’t just make a general comment like “good job”- give detail about what impressed you the most with their achievement. For example, “Thank you for putting your hand up to make the presentation when everyone else shied away from taking this on, you did a great job with the design and the delivery.”
4. Show trust.
Showing your employees you trust them sends a very important message. You’re telling them their work is good enough that they don’t need you constantly looking over their shoulder. Trust and the ability for employees to have autonomy is key for success.
5. Provide support and improvements.
Ensure your team has access to the necessary tools and resources they need to do their job. Up-to-date systems and processes, and a conducive and comfortable work environment. At the same time, encourage feedback from your employees – if something isn’t working or where there are areas for improvements.
6. Connect with your team.
As a Leader you may have a lot of responsibilities, and it’s easy to get caught up in your own work and lose sight of your teams’ welfare. But one of the most effective ways to show your employees you appreciate them is by making time to connect with them. Take the time to check in with them and chat about light-hearted or fun things when you get the chance. Taking time out in the day for fun is vital for production and leaders should ensure their team has the opportunity to stand up from their desks and take small breaks to refresh themselves.
7. Prioritize mentorship and make that a part of your team culture.
There is no organisation who is exempt from the benefits of mentoring. There will always be new or junior employees who can be developed from being paired with an experienced member of the team. Similarly, senior members can also reap the benefits from a mentoring relationship with the opportunity to learn skills such as listening, asking good questions, and the opportunity to support someone else. Whether you establish a formal mentoring program or a casual buddy system, this is an effective way to transmit information and give the newer members of your team a great support system right from the start
8. Drive accountability and ownership.
An effective way to motivate people to give their best is to let them drive initiatives or projects close to their areas of expertise or areas of interest. Employees will be empowered to grow and succeed, but others in the team will be inspired by seeing their colleague’s stepping up and become motivated to see themselves also succeed in similar ways.
9. Be honest and transparent.
Honesty should be a given. Having difficult conversations with your team shows you care enough to deliver even the hard truths. Truthful and transparent feedback will ensure you earn the respect and from your team, which will ultimately contribute to their motivation to achieve results for their team.
Ultimately, if you were to make a checklist out of these 9 value adding tips, how many would you currently be practicing within your organisation? If its less than 50%, your employees will likely be struggling to know if they are valued as an employee. Your chances of retention weigh heavily on the value and appreciation staff feel, and in this candidate driven market, you will risk key talent being whisked up by a company who evidently has a 100% check rate from these 9 top factors.