For many years now, businesses focus on meeting customer needs and expectations. Even if a customer is in the wrong, they will do anything to pacify that client. This puts employees in a tricky situation. They will either want to stay in the company with poor morale or choose to work elsewhere where they feel valued. It is time that brands stop obsessing over customers and start putting their employees first.
Why Employee Obsession Makes Sense
Employee obsession can actually help you save thousands of dollars each year. The happier your talents are, the more likely they are to stay. With a lower turnover rate, you can better serve your clients with your top employees’ help.
You may think you are already taking great care of your employees. But if this is the case, you should already be making enough profit to foster business growth. This is since businesses obsessed with their employees have motivated staff willing to take the brand to greater heights.
If only you spend as much time and energy understanding your team as you do with your customers, you will learn about their struggles, their motivations, and their needs. Remember that the happier your employees are, the better they will do their job, and the more obsessed they will be in catering to your customers’ needs.
Signs You Are Obsessed with Your Employees
How can one tell if they are already obsessed with their employees? Here are four signs that show your company is indeed employee-obsessed.
- You Provide Everything They Need to Work Safely and Productively
Employee obsessed companies make sure their employees have everything they possibly need to make their work easier and safer. They don’t just pay their talents with a high salary and exciting benefits. Every possible thing their employee needs, they provide after thorough research.
For instance, a company won’t simply buy the necessary Personal Protective Equipment for their workers. They also make it a point to buy from quality PPE suppliers in construction. They will ensure each gear’s quality before investing because they value their worker’s safety and are not simply trying to stay compliant.
You also provide them with the right training, not simply because you want them to fulfill their roles better. You are also offering additional training to those who want to advance in their careers. Many employees would be willing to grab the chance for extra training, especially if you provide this to them for free.
- You Recognize and Reward Efforts of Outstanding Employees
One of the best ways to make sure you retain your talents is by recognizing their efforts and rewarding them for their great service. Timely recognition and varied rewards will make your staff want to give their best each day. This is since everyone who feels appreciated will always choose to stay and be productive.
The great thing about employee recognition is that you don’t always have to give big bonuses and rewards to acknowledge your employees. This can be as candid as a genuine compliment, a thank you email, or a nice dinner treat after a hectic week at work.
Employee recognition helps boost employee morale. This makes them happier and wants to stay loyal to the company. This also helps cultivate a company culture of self-improvement.
- You Give Your Employees a Voice
Do you listen to your staff’s ideas, comments, and concerns? Do you make it a point to give them a few minutes of your time to really listen to what they have to say? Are you using different mediums to get employee feedback?
If you answered yes, then your business is also employee-obsessed. When you give your employees a voice, you’re showing them that their opinions matter. Just make sure you consider their ideas and thank them for speaking up to encourage them to continue voicing their ideas and concerns.
- You Also Empower Your Staffs
Not all businesses allow their employees to make their own decisions. They don’t give employees the right to handle customers on their own. They own even give them the right training to help them learn how to make the right decisions.
If you empower your staff, they won’t hesitate to handle customers as a manager would. They will make sure every client will have a better experience, even if it meant going out of their way and beyond their duties. As long as they have the right training, can positively communicate your brand’s vision, have clear expectations, and have autonomy over their tasks, they will more confident in their job.
Obsessing on your employees does not necessarily mean you are tolerating all of their behaviors and that you’re putting them first before your clients. It only means you recognize that to better cater to your customers. You also need to take care of your employees. The good news is it does not take much effort to be employee obsessed. You need to change your mindset. The moment you take greater care of your employees, the easier it will be to keep your customers satisfied.