A pleasant workplace

There is no shortage of business literature filled with never-ending
advice about how to motivate and reward employees. And, all employers
would agree that the benefits of having a
happy workplace are numerous and a
happy work environment is a productive
work environment.

Unfortunately, many employers unknowingly do themselves a disservice by overlooking what should be obvious — simply
treating employees well.

Employers assume that because they
are providing a paycheck, employees
should automatically be happy and do
everything they are asked. But, according to Amy Broadbent, a senior consultant and manager of client services for
JRG Advisors, the management company for ChamberChoice, this is not always
realistic.

“In today’s world, much of the work
force is more willing to jump from job to
job than ever before,” Broadbent says.
“A paycheck alone is not always enough
to keep employees happy, motivated
and loyal.”

Smart Business spoke with Broadbent
about ways to create and maintain a harmonious workplace.

How can employees be kept happy, content
and, most importantly, motivated?

A work force is kept happy and motivated in a number of different ways.
Recognition and appreciation, two key
components to employee motivation,
can be expressed through programs that
recognize an ‘employee of the month’ or
a ‘top salesperson,’ or by implementing a
‘wall of fame’ that boasts customer feedback and testimonials. People want to be
proud of what they do and be recognized
for a job well done. Employees whose
overall performance is satisfactory
should be made aware. It is easier for
employees to accept feedback for
improvement if they know the company
is pleased with their job performance
and wants to help them raise the bar to
do their job even better. Recognition
reinforces employees’ accomplishments
and helps ensure there will be more of them to come. Recognition is a fundamental human need. Proper recognition
of top performers encourages others to
do their best, thereby creating a competitive environment within the company. A
little friendly competition is a good thing.

Why is respect so important in today’s business climate?

Respect is another key component to a
happy work environment. Employees
who feel respected for who they are,
what they know and how they perform
their jobs will be happier and more productive. Respect is important not only
between the employer and employees
but also among employees, peer to peer.
This is where teamwork and camaraderie come into the picture. Most
work requires a team effort in order to
be done most effectively. Employees get
a motivational boost from working in
teams. Those who feel respected by
their employers as well as their peers
will not only be proud of their jobs and
their achievements, they also will be
proud of the company they are representing. Remember, you are only as good
as the people you work with. If people
don’t feel appreciated, they won’t work
hard. If they don’t feel trusted, they
won’t overachieve. It’s that simple.

Why is proper communication imperative in
business?

The importance of communication and
having an ‘open-door’ management style
might sound cliché, but every employer
should have a policy that encourages
employees to ask questions, ask for
advice, or communicate problems and
ideas. Ideas rule the world! Some of the
best ideas come from the people ‘in the
trenches’ — providing an opportunity to
share ideas creates a sense of ownership
and pride with employees. Companies
that recognize, nurture and execute
great ideas will be successful.

Technology continually offers new
ways to efficiently communicate with
employees through e-mail, employee
Intranets, PDAs, etc. While modern technology offers convenience, it is important to maintain personal communication and not lose sight of face-to-face
interaction within the workplace. There
is much to be gained by the humanness
of a verbal ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’

What methods of motivation work best?

There are no one-size-fits-all comprehensive plans that will magically transform a work environment. The key for
any employer who wants to keep its
employees happy, motivated and loyal
is to create a sense of pride and ownership within the organization. Any
employer should want employees to
feel as though they are an essential part
of the company. Employees that feel
this way will work harder and be more
productive and, in the end, the company will reap the rewards.

AMY BROADBENT is a senior consultant and manager of client services for JRG Advisors, the management company for
ChamberChoice. Reach her at (412) 456-7250 or [email protected].