Jenny Q. Ta says she went through a lot of trial and error over the past 20 years as she led teams at three different companies she founded.
“In the past, I (did) believe in an office environment — 8 to 5, clock in, clock out. But what I’ve learned from that is my employees, they tend to feel like they’re being locked down, caged in,” the CEO of social networking platform Sqeeqee told Business in Vancouver.
“(If) you don’t keep your employees happy, he or she can jump ship to some other company and then you would have to start all over again.”
She eventually realized keeping her employees happy was just as important for office morale as it was for the bottom line. She’s since implemented remote working policies and developed the following five tips employers can use to show their teams they matter:
1. Show Respect: This one is simple. Nobody enjoys having themselves or their work degraded. Treat your employees as the hardworking and successful people they are. Make sure that criticism is always constructive and not malicious. You can only receive respect once you have given it out and a respected employee feels they are contributing to the mission of the company and not just completing the next task in line.
2. Don't Procrastinate: Your work is the driving force behind the whole company and it makes it difficult for your employees to advance any further than you yourself. Get your work done early to lay the effective ground work for your staff and set the example. Even if this means working overtime for you, it will result in far more productive time spent by your team.
3. Take Care of Yourself: A ship is nothing without its captain and a company is no different. It is exceptionally hard to lead when you are feeling rundown. When you aren't at your best, your decision-making suffers, take some time each day and work on your health, both mental and physical.
4. Handle Money Wisely: When a business fails it can usually be attributed to poor money management. Demonstrate to your team that you take the work seriously and that every penny is well spent to help the company and its members succeed.
5. Be Cautious of Outsiders: It is dangerous for a business to be too trusting of new faces. Especially when a business is small, the success of the whole operation comes down to the individual skills and actions of just a few people. Show your team that you value what you have built together and make those on the outside earn your trust before giving them too much control.
