Employees crave more than just a paycheck from work. They want to go home feeling valued and respected for the job they do.
Only about a third of employees these days say they are "engaged" in
their jobs. But in the midst of everyday chaos, it's hard for managers
to think about big-picture issues like employee morale and motivation.
Here are 10 phrases or questions you can use with employees to build respect, gratitude and trust, according to the book
Finding Happiness by Todd Patkin. Incorporate them into your at-work vocabulary:
1. "I need your help." Your employees don't expect
you to have all the answers. Rather than lose respect for you as a
leader, they'll appreciate that you treated them as valued partners. And
they'll feel invested in the company's future.
2. "How is your family?" People don't care how much
you know until they know how much you care. Employees will be more loyal
and motivated if they feel valued as individuals, not just as job
descriptions. So get to know employees on an individual basis and
incorporate that knowledge into your regular interactions.
3. "What do you need from me?" Employees may be
anxious about asking the boss for what they need, whether it's new
equipment or time on a project. By asking what you can give them, you
extend permission for staff to make those requests.
4. "Thank you." Praise, especially when it comes
from an authority figure, is incredibly fulfilling. People love to hear
positive feedback about themselves, and in most cases, they'll be
willing to work harder to keep the compliments and thanks coming.
5. "Hey, everyone—listen to what Mike accomplished!"
Don't stop with a compliment when an employee experiences a big
win—tell the rest of the team, too! Verbal praising isn't the only way.
Highlight those successes on the company website, newsletters or
bulletin board.
6. "What would you like to do here?" You may have
hired employees for a certain job, but as the organization has changed,
so have your people. That's why it's good to check in with each one
periodically to ask what they'd like to be doing. You may not be able to
accommodate every preference, but employees will be happier (and more
motivated) when their jobs match their skills.
7. "What do you think?" Employees who are told what
to do (and how to do it) feel like cogs in a machine. To unlock buy-in
and achievement, ask them for their opinions, ideas and preferences.
Again, they'll be much more invested because they had an active part in
creating it.
8. "Here's where we stand." Help employees make
connections regarding how your company works from top to bottom. It will
streamline internal processes, reduce misunderstandings and promote
team spirit. Also, make sure everyone understands the relationship
between their performance and the bottom line (and, thus, their own
pay). Transparency will breed trust.
9. "That's OK. We all make mistakes. Let's talk about how to fix this."
You shouldn't take mistakes lightly, especially those involving
negligence or incompetence. Just remember that mistakes can be part of
growth. Take a deep breath and remember the employee feels bad already.
Yelling won't change the past. Instead, focus on how to keep the mistake
from happening again. Did the employee learn something? Should a
process or procedure be tweaked?
10. "This task is in your hands—I'm stepping back."
Micromanaging and excessive hovering give employees the impression that
you don't trust them—a belief that undermines engagement. Once you've
delegated a task, step back and let employees do what you've asked them.
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