Keys to Becoming the Best Boss Ever and Building Loyal Employee Relationships

The employee and employer relationship is just that - a relationship. It really won't work out if the parties involved just perform the "expected" actions. It's important to nurture mutual respect and communication on the job just as with any other relationship. It isn't the contract between the employer and employee that is the most important part of an occupational relationship any more than the marriage contract is the most important thing between a husband and wife in a marriage. It is instead the relationship itself, something which is by its nature dynamic rather than static. Over time it should grow and the bond of the relationship should strengthen, too, creating increased loyalty and desire to work for the benefit of all involved.

Just as in a marriage there are certain steps one must take and certain practices one should follow to build and maintain a healthy work relationship.

Communication

Relationships begin with communication, thrive with good communication and wither without it. Employees feel more valued and more in control of their own situation when they are well-informed. They will be more productive if they not only know what is expected of them but the reasons behind it. That is not to say that you need to go into great detail but an occasional memo with a basic overview can be very helpful.

For instance, most retail managers require shoppers to be greeted within a few moments of entering the business by a staff member. However, few managers take the time to explain why. This can be a somewhat difficult task for employees, especially young ones, going up to strangers and greeting them in a familiar way particularly when they don't understand the benefit. I've found that an employee's hesitance and resistance to this task that makes them uneasy melts away once I explain that its purpose is twofold. It lets the customer know you are available to serve their needs and answer their product and service questions. Secondly, it lets potential shoplifters know that the staff is an alert presence is in your store. Many such simple explanations can be worked into training tutorials or added to weekly memos for pre-existing employees.

Understanding the Bottom Line

Ultimately, the customer is where your money comes from. However, the money has a hard time getting into your pockets from the customer's without people to serve the customer. The retail employees are your face, the front you present to the world. If your "face" is disgruntled and unsupported it detracts from your image and no business can really afford that. Study after study, survey after survey has shown that money is not the most important factor in job satisfaction. Assuming the employee is making an adequate wage, most employees find non-monetary recognition to be most important. What this means is recognizing and communicating about the employee's importance to the company. This can be as simple as saying, "Thank You" at the end of a work shift or after a staff member has dealt with a difficult task or customer. Such recognition can take the form of "awards" or a mention in the weekly memo for great team work or service.

Employees are People, too

Regardless of an employee's position in your company you are equals in life. No human being is better than another. Employees will appreciate any expression of this sentiment. Just like in a marriage your relationship is based on mutual respect, something which is available only on two way streets. If you treat an employee like a partner they will act like one. They will care about the business and it will show in productivity and turnover. Nurturing a relationship between equals also serves to reduce or eliminate employee theft. People can steal easily from impersonal companies but not so easily from friends, people like themselves.