by Farida Yahya
Let’s face it, building a team is nerve wrecking for most founders. It’s a cross between anxiety and excitement and it’s usually as a result of projected fear, usually from experience, and sometimes just from hearsay. I am sharing these simple tips with you to broaden your horizon, and make you realize that it’s possible to build your dream dream.
So, here they are:
1. A Warm Welcome
A simple greeting, full of genuine kindness, has a huge impact on your work environment. Your team members need to feel and be happy. So, give them a little push in the first part of the day with a big smile that says, "I'm grateful you are here and I need you to make our dreams come true."
Show up in the office often and ask about everybody's well-being. Chat with them about how they spent their weekends and check whether anybody needs help with current projects. I can't stop stressing this — when you create a conducive environment, everybody will feel great, which equals happy workers.
Maintaining a positive working environment is important as far as both workplace bliss and your employees' vitality and productivity levels are concerned. And all of that begins with you establishing a bubbly tone.
Something as straightforward as a grin and a "Good day!" can be sufficient to add sunlight in Joyce's gloomy mood. Using a genuine and upbeat approach to increase your group's confidence will make them more inspired and excited to keep working with you.
When you keep up this daily routine of greeting them with pep and excitement, it won't be long before it rubs off on them. Soon, you will see them copying your greeting gesture to each other, boosting everybody's mood. This will snowball into a mood booster for a long time.
2. Support wellness at work
Almost everyone is keen on leading a happy life. This does not exempt your employees from the equation. Boosting wellness is a splendid idea and it doesn't matter whether it is through mindfulness tactics, physical exercise, or food.
Various programs have been created solely to improve the workplace so that workers can easily adopt and maintain those healthy habits. Here are some strategies that you can use to create a culture of workplace wellness:
Make a list of restaurants and eateries close to your company that have healthy meals. Email this list to your employees to eliminate the time that would have spent Googling for "healthy meals close to me;"
Make a deal with a gym so you can get corporate discounts for your staffs that love using the gym; and
Lessen the stress levels of your team members by booking for a meditation or yoga teacher to do group sessions in the workplace once in a week or month
By motivating your employees to live a sound and healthy life, you are telling them that they are so essential to your business.
3. Recognize their hard work and praise them often
Will you be surprised if I say that feeling overlooked is one of the main reasons why most people leave a company for another? Your team members will be happy and open to contribute to company activities when you consistently praise and recognize their efforts. Don't assume! Ask them how they will like to be acknowledged for a well-executed job. You can do this easily by sending a short email to all your team members.
Or, you could organize a relaxed meeting to get their input on how they want to be complimented or recognized when and where credit is expected. Some people will be good with just a short phrase like "You did great!" said out in front of the others. For other people, they might prefer a private feedback session.
You just have to keep doing it regularly. When your team member does something extraordinary, don't waste time to tell them immediately. No point in waiting till it's time for their annual performance review. Most companies don't even do annual reviews anymore.
4. Offer constructive criticism and recognition to your employees
Successful leaders know about the significance of feedback, and so, they adopt feedback as a mini-mentoring tool. Utilizing it to provide positive recognition and helpful criticism eliminates any doubt and shows how the behaviour of an individual can align with the company goals.
Additionally, feedback sessions should be a two-way discussion. Ask them questions and let them ask you as well. Welcome questions from your staff. There is a huge problem if your employees feel hesitant to ask questions. Ensure you are open and transparent in your method so both of you can maximize the benefits from your mini-mentoring session.
I’d also like to remind you that the key to effective feedback is communication. Communication at regular intervals (biweekly or monthly) is important as opposed to all at once at the end of the year.
5. Capitalize on fulfilment
A clear understanding of the purpose and mission of your company will allow your employees to love their work and give their 100% all the time. Your main job is to let them see the end goal.
Share the summary of the "what" and "why" of each division of your company. When you allow your team to see the internal operations of the company from all perspectives and angles, they will form a better relationship with the business. This will help them become more dedicated to making sure that your company succeeds.
During an interview with Forbes, Shawn Anchor, a happiness expert said that “The greater your access to inner happiness, the greater your experience of success throughout your life.” This means that we can become more successful in life if we continuously look for new ways to create happiness. This is contrary to our general belief that success brings about happiness. However, the reverse is the case.
Express gratitude toward Zainab for completing a project before the deadline and let Muhammad realize that his patience with a troublesome customer isn't going unnoticed.
Another way to make work more satisfying is to join a cause and let your employees be part of the giving-back campaigns in your community. The point of these campaigns is to make your workers aware of the greater good of the company.
6. Prioritize Work/Life Balance
In most workplaces, work/life balance has become the main priority. Employees need to feel valued as a dedicated worker and as an individual who has an important life outside of work.
Let them know that you prioritize work/life balance by providing them perks such as longer vacation days, childcare facilities, telecommute Thursdays, spa vouchers, or gym membership cards. Any of these incentives will improve the well-being of your employees as well as their quality of life. It shows that you truly care about them.
In case you're battling with what to choose to impart the significance of work/life balance, consider the activities or things that satisfy you outside of work and what incentives you would like. Your workers might want those same things. Also, you could skip the guesswork and just ask about the needs of each employee.
7. Escape from your routine
It can be mind-numbing to spend the whole day at your desk or on the telephone handling series of customer complaints about extensive periods, all day every day.
Do something different. Schedule your next meeting with your employees outside or at their preferred restaurant. Encourage them to take a day off and do something fun such as cooking, swimming, visiting an art studio, book club, etc. When they show up for work the next day, they ought to be very much refreshed, invigorated and more than prepared to handle projects.
Extra Tip here:
Develop a close bond with your staff and initiate meaningful conversations with them. Many employers feel it’s unnecessary and unprofessional. Well, that’s a lie! Becoming acquainted with your team is perhaps the best way to build a cheerful culture and a happy work environment.
Try to gain some new useful knowledge about your staff regularly. For example, discovering that Ali is a comedian or that Amirah likes to paint in her spare time might make you appreciate them in another light, in addition to their professional skills that you already know.
Farida Yahya is the Founder of Lumo Naturals, an Abuja-based natural hair care solutions brand. She is also the founder of The Brief Academy, a learning hub dedicated to developing and supporting female-owned start-ups to achieve wealth and scalability. Farida is also the author of Redefining Beautiful, a book that discusses the realities of starting a natural hair business. You can connect with Farida Yahya via email: farida@lumonaturals.com or by visiting the website: www.faridayahya.com