Having a strong relationship with your employees is a critical way to getting the best out of your teams. Respect and gratitude for your employees is foundational to building strong relationships. Here are a few other ways you can lean into your leadership and inspire true loyalty and motivation in your teams.

How Can You Build a Better Relationship with Your Employees?

Give Recognition Where It’s Due

Nothing is more disheartening than failing to be recognized for the hard work that goes into a project or deliverable. Recognition can start at a simple statement of thanks. The long-term value of appreciation is often immeasurable. Employee engagement is built and supported by both recognition and compensation. Too many employers forget that recognition is as much a part of the equation. Don’t let your staff feel like they are working a thankless job. Rather, boosting morale with on-the-spot recognition is a budget-friendly and moral-boosting leadership strategy that works to build strong relationships.

Invest In Career Paths

In a recent Randstad US Survey, it was revealed that the number one reason employees leave their jobs is the lack of a career path. Think about that for a moment, because it’s a huge problem. A lack of an individualized career path for employees shows a lack of commitment to long-term staff, and those employees who leave know it. Companies must reevaluate their long-term retention strategies to include the kinds of succession paths and career growth opportunities that encourage and engage workers. If an employee feels that their company is committed to their success as an individual and in supporting their long-term growth within the company, they are more likely to feel satisfied on the job and motivated to do their best work on a day-to-day basis.

Enable Your Teams with New Skills

Employees are motivated to do their best work when they are learning new skills and technologies that will make them more effective on the job. Employers who invest the ongoing education of their staff are likely to see employees more committed and loyal to their companies in the long term. It can be a real challenge to stay on top of all the latest trends and processes that are needed to stay ahead of the competitors, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not interested in staying up to date. The support and investment of their employers will go a long way to employees empowering themselves to keep learning.

Emphasis on Engagement

Engaged workers are more productive and more effective than their disengaged counterparts. It is important to create engagement in your team by allowing for different perspectives, different experiences, and different values to contribute to the overall creativity and dynamic of your team. Recognizing that different workers from different generations may engage in the work in different ways (for example traditionalists may prefer a more directive style of leadership while Millennials are committed to making a difference in the overall business strategy). As an effective manager, you should know what the values of your staff are, and ensure they remain engaged in the work by tailoring your management style for their unique personalities.

Ready to Build Better Relationships With Your Employees?

For more great tips on building your team on a foundation of strong relationships, connect with the experts at CPS today.