You may offer a great product or service, but business success is also defined by the people behind it. If you’ve got staff or contractors on board, make sure they are treated well and that you build a tight-knit team. Coherence, communication and care are some keywords to keep in mind when doing this. There's more you can do to create a sense of belonging in your workforce, so let’s get started!
People working in your business are employed for various reasons and fulfill jobs that reflect their skills. Value and acknowledge them when possible. Make your staff members feel like they're a part of the bigger picture and give them a sense of purpose. When you assign work, talk through the reasons why it’s needed, the completion deadline to work to and how this project helps fit into the end business goal.
Just like you would with your customers, create moments that enhance your team's lives. A team meeting at a beach, a day off work or an unexpected bonus - make sure you surprise and delight your staff where possible to make them feel like they belong. Make working for your business an enjoyable thing!
While you’ll have the big picture business goals set up to work towards, also consider the personal and professional ambitions your team members might have. Is there a way you can support them to reach those goals? By fostering a supportive and encouraging workplace, and helping them achieve more, you'll create a sense of harmony, appreciation and more importantly a growth mindset.
Create opportunities for your workforce to upskill and further their learning. They'll want to feel challenged (in a good way!) on the job, and you don’t want them to be bored and look elsewhere for work. By offering incentives such as paid conferences, courses or mentorship, your staff will feel recharged, motivated and return to work with lots more to offer. Plus the new skills and learnings that your staff pick up from additional training will inevitably be put to use in your business too - win, win!
Plan exciting and special team-building exercises or experiences outside your usual working environment. This could be anything from a volunteering day in the community, attending the launch of a new restaurant or a fun-filled activity day. Bringing people together in a relaxed, informal setting is a proven way to discover more about the team and build rapport.
Embrace and celebrate what makes each of your staff members unique by establishing moments and workplace traditions to celebrate cultural holidays, customs or specific food dishes to share. By celebrating what sets us apart from each other, it will actually bring everyone closer together and foster a sense of a safe space for every culture, religion, ethnicity, age group and sexual orientation to feel warm, welcomed and seen in your workplace. Perhaps even a round of Diversity training such as is offered by Diversity Works could be of great benefit to your workplace environment.
Encourage the launch of a social club with your staff! A social club will create a feeling of belonging, camaraderie and independence in your workforce. By having their own social club, your staff members will enjoy planning their own out of work get togethers, games nights, social sporting teams or crafting groups. A shared involvement focused on similar tastes and hobbies helps your workers to feel like they are part of a family “away from home.”