The Need for Emotional Support on the Job

When we think of providing the necessary support for employees and workers to get the job done, we generally think in terms of supplies, equipment, and resources. We might think of how we can provide training or the necessary education and tools for workers to be effective as well. What is often overlooked, however, is the emotional support that many employees need in order to help them stay motivated and focused to do good work for the company or business.

The term "emotional support" applies to things like encouragement, thoughtfulness, care and concern. As employees dedicate themselves to a specific team, workplace or project, they may need positive feedback in order to stay motivated. A worker who has been working hard on a particular project may need to hear some positive encouragement or have a supervisor who will not only notice that she has been working hard, but who will also offer support and share concern for the employee's well-being.

Not all employees need emotional support all the time, of course, but it can be one of the tasks of a supervisor or employer. Letting employees know that you notice the work they are doing and appreciate what is being done can be a key way of offering emotional support. While it may seem preferable for employees to leave their "personal lives" at the company door, this is not always the case-especially for long-term employees. Those individuals who have been with a company for a long time may naturally start to feel that their work world is an important continuation of other areas of their lives. During times of illness, stress, divorce, death or other trying personal times, employees may need additional emotional support in order to stay productive on the job. It is up to supervisors and leadership to provide some encouragement and support in order to keep employees satisfied and committed to the company-not to mention that it is just positive human behavior to offer emotional support to those individuals we interact with on such a regular basis.

Positive feedback is key and emotional support is one of those "intangibles" that can help keep a productive and qualified workforce happy and content.