“Sow an act, and you reap a habit.
Sow a habit, and you reap a character."
Charles Reade (1814-1884)
Habit number 8 is possibly the most fun as well as rewarding for you and your employees. Aside from the importance of managing a success business, employee participation enhances productivity and quality assurance.
Golden Mailer has found these nine habits to be very useful in developing our business model they have proven very beneficial in achieving a sustaining our place in a very competitive market. As a brief review here are the 9 habits have found to be the most useful in building our business:
- Know Your Market & What Your Customer Wants
- Develop a Mission Statement and Business Plan
- Create a Repeatable, Scalable Business Organization
- Develop a Culture of Discipline
- Be Professional
- Be Consistent & Follow Through
- Stay on Top of Profits & Cash Flow
- Keep Your Employees Involved
- Adapt to Changes
If you are a one person business, you may think this habit does not concern you, but that isn't true. Golden Mailer is a family owned and operated business because the family was always involved, either at the dinner table, or helping out on weekends and after school. So,even as a sole proprietor, you may want to keep your family involved, if for no other reason than a way to prepare your children or spouse to take over the business should you become ill or wish to retire.
From much of what was already discussed in the previous sections, you probably understand the importance of communicating the values, visions, and expectations of the business to your employees; however, employee involvement goes a step farther because good employees take their role in the business very seriously and you always want to have highly motivated employees, their involvement in the business will greatly enhance the potential for success.
Periodic informal meetings, luncheons, after work get togethers, or even weekend outings, give employees another format in which to exchange ideas or pleasantries outside of the formal business setting. These opportunities give people the sense of belonging and a feeling of unity. Employee involvement is a way of showing you care, but more importantly, it is another way of recognizing their contribution. It is also a way of rewarding them for the work they are doing. It's important that the employees recognize that you appreciate their role in achieving the purposes of the business.
Management of your staff is a challenge, but if you do it right, it can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your business career. Seeking to involve your employees is a habit that leads to enhanced productivity and better employee relationships.
Speaking of keeping your employees involved:
- How do you keep your employees involved in your business?
- What methods have you found to be most effective in motivating employee involvement?
- How important is employee satisfaction to you and the success of your business?
Yes, #8 is important. When I am asked to get involved and am asked for my feedback, I feel that I'm part of a team. I have worked at jobs though where management decided everything. It has made me wonder why I was working there in the first place.
ReplyDelete(I'm from LinkedIn)
I couldn't agree with you more. Employee involvement is important to any businesses success. You are so right about doing it right. There is a quote "If you don't have time to do it right, will you have the time to do it over". That quote is very fitting to your post subject. :-),Susan Cooper
ReplyDeleteGreat points. I also believe that employees are brand reinforcement. To your point about communicating values, visions, etc...the last thing you want is to have a customer call and the employee is not congruent with the marketing messages on your site or with previous experience they may have had with the business.
ReplyDelete