NFIB

Keep Employees Upbeat
10/ 23/ 2002

by Vicki Gerson

Every small business owner wants employees who are loyal to the company, take pride in their work, do their job well and have an upbeat attitude. Here are a few things you can do to turn your employees into the ones you've always dreamed of having:

Take care of employees who are working late.

If staff members are staying late to finish a project, order takeout. Something as simple as pizza or a deli tray can improve moods and concentration levels.

Frequently say thank you and give compliments.

Everyone likes to know he or she is appreciated. Say thanks for a job well done. Let employees know you liked the way they dealt with a difficult customer or put in more hours to make a project deadline. Every employee deserves recognition for something.

Take a break when everything goes wrong.

When something happens that stresses out the whole office--losing an account, missing a deadline, someone walking out on the job--give your employees time to regroup. Tell them to take an extra hour at lunch or quit early for the day.

Have parties.

Celebrate birthdays with a cake. Take your staff out to lunch on a valued employee's last day. Even bringing bagels in for breakfast once in awhile does wonders for company morale and energy.

Show your appreciation for traveling employees.

Secretly upgrade hotel accommodations. Send a fax the morning of a big presentation to wish the employee luck. And if you've sent employees on the road for an extended period, you might want to present them with a small thank-you gift upon their return. A restaurant or mall gift certificate would surely be appreciated.

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