After the Coronavirus shut down the business community, some workers decided to shut down too. The eagerness and drive to work now seem depleted and the majority of Charlotte businesses are desperately hiring trying to get back to full staff. How do you keep your team engaged when they have no desire to show up to work? What can you do as a business owner right now to connect with your team? Here you will find insight into inspiring the uninspired and how to create a positive work environment for your business.
Understanding Money Talks
To understand your workers, you must start with the basics. They’re clocking in and out of your establishment and one thing on their mind is to make money to afford the lifestyle they want to live. People are finding easier ways to make money such as becoming content creators on TikTok and YouTube, so as a business owner, you want to motivate your team to stay focused on your brand. Offering your team members new quarterly bonuses might be a good start. Creating a bonus for perfect work attendance, a positive 5-star review or recruiting a new team member that lasts at least 60 days are other ways to connect with your team.
Hire a Leader That Your Team Respects
Workers leave their jobs due to frustration with management and their overall satisfaction with the job. When hiring a manager, look for someone who is transparent and has great listening skills. You might want to put them through a trial run to see if they have the right work ethic and if your team responds well to them. Workers respond better to a manager who is a hard worker. Communicating with your teams regularly and asking for feedback on your managers will also give your workers a voice. They want to be heard and they should, they are the face of your business and a reflection of your business’s results today. If you are having a hard time finding quality managers, start recruiting at virtual or in-person job fairs, Facebook groups, Charlotte Axios job boards, or LinkedIn. Hiring the right managers will bring out the best in your employees.
Team Bonding Works
People are more likely to commit to your business if they feel like they are a part of a work family. Team lunches or outings will create an opportunity for you to deepen the bond with your employees, versus them just being another check to cut on the payroll. Partnering with local Charlotte restaurants, planning a trip to Carowinds, or hosting an annual Christmas party could also encourage a team member to stay on staff because they want to get that part out of their work experience. Having an employee of the week or month is also a great way to motivate staff to be better. Offering a $20-$50 gift card for the winner would also be a nice touch. Encouraging friendly team competitions and rotating teams could force someone out of their shell, and they could find the support they didn’t know they needed.
The great thing about owning a business in Charlotte is that the demand is there and always growing. As a business owner, you want to be able to keep up with this demand and offer the best customer service, so you have returning and new clients. Understanding your team takes effort and sometimes financial sacrifice to make them feel appreciated. People respond best to new money opportunities, work ethic expectations and a work-family bond. Acknowledging this could result in a great reputation for your business and inspire those who appear to be unmotivated.
