For a small business to run smoothly and provide exceptional service and quality, every team member needs to share the company ethos and deliver in their role. Moreover in a small team, each person may have multiple job roles, and there may not be 'back-up' people to cover certain job functions. Each employee is vital.
And when you have a motivated team that works well together, you've got magic! This Friday, 3rd March, is Employee Appreciation Day. We'd love you as a small business owner to pause for a moment to consider how to give thanks and recognition to your employees. Read our tips below for ways to show your team how much they mean to the business, and to you personally.
Why you really should make an effort
When your team feels appreciated, they will be more motivated and as a result will perform better.
You might think your team knows that you appreciate them, but if you don't tell or show them regularly, they may feel taken for granted. This will in turn impact their happiness at work, which might mean they start looking for another job. Staff turnover means you'll then have to spend extra cash to recruit, onboard and train someone new.
So, let's look at ways to celebrate the people who make it all happen.
Some ideas
1. Find out what your team really thinks and go from there
Have you surveyed job happiness/wellbeing in an anonymous way? Sometimes people are reluctant to tell you openly how they feel. Try an online form, or if you have a very small team, try a questionnaire with a 1-10 scale for most of the responses. Your employees might feel a numbered scale makes their responses less identifiable, in which case they can be more honest with their responses.
You can use your survey to discover any grievances, or if there is anything that you could easily do to improve the work environment.
Use survey feedback to make positive changes, and your team will know you care. It might be as simple as changing the radio station now and then!
2. Try new work patterns
Have you tried anything new since things returned to 'normal' after COVID-19? Hybrid working? Different shift patterns? Closing early on a day that is always slow? A 4-day work week? Or how about shorter working days? (How productive is your team after 4pm, really?)
Some businesses have found that a 4-day work week boosted their revenues. If you'd like to sign up to the UK trial, visit 4dayweek.com.
3. Micro-gifting
Showing your appreciation through 'micro-gifting' works well for home-based workers. The idea is essentially to give out employee perks in small doses.
Micro-gifting might have happened naturally in an office environment, but needs planning and consideration for home-based workers. A box of doughnuts in the staffroom or free drinks after work don't benefit those who work exclusively from home.
While micro-gifting can be used to incentivise or reward employees for a job well done, it can also be an occasional 'thank you' - just because.
Try sending gift vouchers via email or a brownie box through the post.
Caffè Nero has vouchers from £5 and M&S has free delivery on all flowers and plants, which start at £20.
4. Respect health needs, whether mental or otherwise
Perhaps acknowledging health needs doesn't directly show appreciation, but it shows you care, which is pretty good, too.
For example, many larger businesses are developing strategies to support employees going through the menopause. 'Menopause Champions', in-house educational campaigns and training are all common. As a small business owner, it's certainly a good idea to learn more about the menopause. Another example can be found in Spain, where last month the parliament approved paid menstrual leave.
And let's also consider the mental wellbeing of your staff. If someone is struggling, find out what they need and support them as best you can.
Let someone know you appreciate them and will support them through a difficult time.
5. Crowdsource and share the love
Crowdsource appreciation by allowing employees to nominate other members of staff for treats/prizes. Share positive feedback about a particular employee with the whole team.
Publish the 'Employee of the Month' on social media or in a team newsletter. Share this with your clients! A nice perk, like a reserved parking space, also goes down well.
6. Virtual social events
If you have home-based workers, or hybrid workers, then virtual socials are where it's at! (No more Zoom quizzes though, please!) Socials where people do an activity at home, at the same time, can be effective for team-building.
Painting, cooking, wine-tasting, knitting, or anything where your team learn a new skill together can be good fun.
7. Thank-you notes
Spell it out! Send a handwritten thank-you note. Email updates to your team could start with a 'thank you' to a particular member of staff who's done something great.
Leave someone a nice message on a post-it note at their work station after they've left for the day.
At rebuildingsociety.com, we understand that being a small business owner is tough. Keep your employees on board, and you'll have allies to help you get through difficult times, and to help you achieve your business goals. When you care, your team will too.
