As a leader, you have the responsibility to do the best you can for your employees. In some cases, this means that you need to be mindful of new techniques floating around. Sometimes, these techniques aren’t even all that new; they’ve just been implemented by successful companies ahead of their time, and the rest of us are only now catching on. With that in mind, see if you’re doing the right and kicking out the wrong by ensuring you don’t use the following practices at your business.
Demanding Change
At one point, business was different, and being very specific about what you want and how you want it (and when) was necessary to keep everyone in order. Now, it just makes people feel squished, and sometimes they’ll even rebel (or stop working for you completely) to get away from that kind of imposing on their freedom. Instead, nurture change, and encourage it when you see employees doing the right thing. Your people will likely be encouraged to come up with their own ideas and creative thoughts, and you should do your best to implement them when they’re actually good ideas.
Money Incentives
Don’t get us wrong; a bit of cash here and there as a bonus isn’t going to upset anyone, and in fact, it can contribute to happy employees. But some cash isn’t going to cut it anymore. Instead, focus on rewards that are bigger than money, such as heartfelt appreciation. Maybe you see that an employee is going through a stressful time. Leave a nice card on their desk with a spa certificate and the permission to take the rest of the afternoon off for a relaxing trip to get their feet rubbed. It’s the little things.
