Making sure your people feel valued is vitally important. People who feel valued tend to be more committed to their employers and also tend to go the extra mile, when necessary.
One of the most important duties of any manager is to ensure that their team members feel that their work is appreciated.
To ensure that your team feel they play an important part in the business, you need to recognise them as individuals. Team building events, office parties, etc. are great for boosting team morale but you also need your people to feel that they are appreciated as individuals. Show recognition by asking them to share their views, contribute to a discussion or attend a conference in your place. This provides validation to them that they have something of value to offer, boosting self-confidence and self-esteem.
Go one step further and involve your employees in making important business decisions. Invite them to contribute to a discussion on a new strategy or perhaps ask them for their thoughts on a new product or service line decision. This can also provide the firm with opportunities to consider new ideas to potentially drive innovation.
Transparency is also very important. The management team should let the wider firm know what’s going on with the business. Keep them informed of the overall strategy and progress towards company objectives. This will demonstrate that you trust them and can create a feeling of “we are all in this together”. This type of approach goes a long way to boosting the morale of your team members.