“Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.”
~ General George Smith Patton, Jr.
Employees are a valuable resource that are frequently overlooked. By working with employees to maximize their skills and productivity, leaders will help increase each employee’s value to the company. You need to learn the most effective ways to empower employees to achieve their greatest potential. Here are a few things you can do now:
1 – Listen to your employees.
No one knows their jobs better than they do. If they come to you with suggestions to make their jobs easier, hear them out. Employees often come up with great ideas to increase their productivity, but if their managers don’t listen, they give up trying to make things better.
2 – Don’t feel threatened.
Some of your employees probably have skills that you don’t have. That’s why they are doing their jobs and you are doing yours. Their success reflects positively on you as well as them, so don’t allow yourself to feel threatened. Instead, try to encourage those employees to continue improving upon their skills.
3 – Provide the necessary support.
If your employees need new equipment, software, training, or anything else to do their jobs in an efficient manner, work to provide them with it. If necessary, advocate to senior leadership for the support to get your employees what they need.
4 – Tell them how important they are.
Knowing that your job is important can make a huge difference in both self-esteem and job satisfaction. Employees who feel like they are making an important contribution are happier at work, and thus, they are more likely to remain loyal and do their best work for their employers.
5 – Let them know how they are doing.
Too often, managers take employees for granted and fail to express their appreciation for a job well done. An employee who receives frequent praise when deserved is more likely to strive to reach greater heights of success. Find ways to provide feedback regularly, and try to frame constructive feedback in a positive light. For example, you might say, “I really like the graphs you used to illustrate this report, but I’d like to see more information about the profit margins on individual products.”
Implement these strategies with your employee. This will directly inspire and empower your employees for greater fulfillment at work.
Schedule a motivational seminar for your employees today! See how motivational professional public speaker Joel Garfinkle can help you.
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