When I ask company executives what their greatest asset is, the answer is almost always “our people.” That’s the right answer, but unfortunately, I also see that many companies do not invest enough in their people. This includes everything from providing appropriate training to creating a culture where employees know they are valued.
How can you show your employees you value them? Here are two ways.
First, if you talk to most employees in these companies, they will tell you that they want to become better at what they do. By providing ongoing training and development, companies would demonstrate that they value their employees and their progress, all while helping increase the company bottom line. Think of this way: employees who feel more valued and who are better trained will be more engaged and be more proficient at their work.
A second vital way to value your employees is through simple recognition. They want to be told they’ve done a good job and that they are appreciated. That said, with today’s multi-generational workforce, providing consistent and fair recognition can be a challenge. Each generation from the Baby Boomers to Generation Z have different needs regarding recognition. Meeting their respective needs in this area is a must.
No matter what you sell or what service you provide, you must consider yourself in the people business. This includes both the employees and your customer. Without either of them, your business wouldn’t exist. The need for happy employees is especially vital in a creative environment.
What I find great about this concept (at least one thing!) is that by investing in your employees, you are also investing in your customers. How you treat your employees is how they will treat your customers. Show your employees that they matter and they will do their utmost to make sure you customers know they too are valued.
Another aspect of being a “people business” is knowing when a deal or relationship won’t work. This protects you, your employees, and ultimately your customer. I often tell people “you can’t make a good deal with a bad guy” and that remains true. Trying to form business relationships with someone or a company that doesn’t have strong values will result in you getting burned. Every time.
What are you doing to show your people you care? I would tell you that it’s never too late to start doing the right thing by investing in your company’s most valuable asset—it’s people.