5 Ways Happy Employees Will Increase Your Bottom-Line

We all know that stress kills creativity. According to a research, if a person is happy they will exude higher energy and creativity levels. Sadly, employee happiness has not been such a priority, and businesses tend to focus solely on keeping their customers and clients happy.

However, there is a deeper connection between a happy employee and a satisfied customer. Studies show an increase in employee focus and passion because of increased happiness. This subsequently equates to an increase in their productivity levels by 12-20%. Employee productivity and engagement are signs of a healthy work environment, and there is a direct correlation between the level of employee happiness and your bottom-line. According to a study by Gallup, only 13 percent of employees are engaged, contributing to reduced productivity and a loss of billions of dollars to businesses.

This is why, if you want your company’s profits to increase, you need to take small steps to ensure the happiness of your employees. It isn’t always about money; there are other happiness statistics too that you can use to reach out to your employees. Employees want more than just a salary. They want to be happy in the place where they spend 70% of their waking hours. So, here are some changes that you can bring about immediately to increase the happiness level in your employees and improve your bottom-line:

1- Build trust

If you have ever come across Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, you must know that trust is the foundation. You can’t develop a happy workplace environment unless there is an innate level of trust between you and your employees.

Also read: Leadership, Mentoring and Trust

When employees feel that they are trusted to perform their work tasks, they tend to perform in a much more creative and confident way, which in turn creates a feeling of value within them. This is when they try to maximize their contribution towards increasing the company’s bottom-line.

Make sure that you live up to your promises, but don’t over commit.

2- Provide consistent feedback

Employees want you to notice their hard work and expect a feedback from the higher management. So, know what are their strengths and weaknesses and how they can improve to perform even better.

Try to be approachable and provide consistent feedback to your employees. This will open up any communication barriers between you and your team. But remember, feedback is only effective when it is delivered objectively and with complete fairness. Always use it as a tool of instruction rather than a means of punishment.

3- Provide growth opportunities

Talented employees want to learn and increase their knowledge. The writers at Harvard Business Review stated that the urge to progress and get better at their work is one of the main driving forces behind employee motivation.

Also read: The Importance Of Learning And Development In An Ever-Changing World

This is why, if you want to lead a team of employees who are completely engaged, don’t assign them the same old mundane tasks every day. Instead, offer them tasks that require productivity and allow them to grow professionally.

Introduce a new tool in your system, such as an analytics solution; this way everyone can learn something new every day. Some of the ways in which you can promote professional growth is by offering them to study further, sending them to attend conferences and letting them participate in internal mentorship programs.

Investing in your employees’ professional growth not only benefits your business, but also makes them feel worthwhile and appreciated. This feeling of gratitude and satisfaction will motivate your employees to work to their maximum capabilities to increase your bottom-line.

4- Appreciate their hard work

Engaged employees will always strive to go beyond the call of duty. They take ownership of their duties and often complete them before the deadlines. But, to keep the motivation levels high, you need to appreciate their hard work constantly.

Always recognize tasks that are done well and give due credit. A positive feedback loop will ensure that your engaged employees stay that way.

Many organizations offer bonuses and incentives but money isn’t everything. The best motivator is public recognition, in which the employee enjoys an elevated social status and the joy of being praised. There are many ways in which you can appreciate your employees’ hard work. Call them up on stage in the next company event, mention their names in the internal newsletter, introduce an employee of the week award or simply give them a shout-out during office hours! A simple gesture of appreciation can do wonders. Try it!

5- Offer flexibility

Gone are the days when office hours used to be nine-to-five. In this digital era, people are working with much more flexibility and maintaining a better work-life balance. Give your employees the independence to work according to their preferences, and as long as they are putting in 40 hours a week and meeting project deadlines, they don’t need to be chained to their desks.

Also read: 5 Benefits of Flexible Hours

The advent of mobile devices and WIFI has made it easier for employees to work virtually from anywhere, and even if they are not present in the office, they can get the work done. This develops a feeling of trust and respect between both parties, both of which contribute towards employee happiness and improved productivity levels.

According to a research by Forbes, companies that follow a flexible work model and allow its employees to design their own schedules show increased productivity levels of up to 30-60%.

Conclusion

Most leaders agree with the fact that employee attitude plays a great role in a company’s success. If your employees are motivated or frustrated, it largely depends on you. To keep your team engaged and happy, make sure you incorporate these five tips in your leadership every day.

Remember, happy employees are engaged employees. Give them a reason to wake up and be excited for work. Let your employees prosper and help them grow professionally. Stick to this mantra and watch your bottom-line increase.

Do you follow any of these techniques to keep your employees happy? Let us know about your best kept secrets that help you build productive and happy teams in the comments below.