Romance your staff and reap the benefits

Valentineís Day brings with it the anticipation of love, romance, dinner by candlelight, red roses by the dozen and other tokens of affection. As business owners and managers start planning how they are going to treat their loved ones this year, it is also important not to forget to show staff just how valued they are.

David Robertson, chief executive of Bibby Financial Services, explains: ìIn the rush to meet customer demands, stay ahead of the competition and balance the books, entrepreneurs often lose sight of their biggest asset - their staff. It is vital to create an environment in which employees feel valued and above all, happy. The result is a more motivated workforce and this in turn, means greater productivity and, ultimately, higher profits.î

In order to help, Bibby Financial Services has developed the following tips on how owners and managers can romance their staff to make their business a better, more enjoyable place to work and gain maximum benefits.

1. Perfect partnership - treat employees as partners in the firm and keep them informed about business performance. Ask staff for their views on key decisions that are likely to affect them and actively encourage suggestions to improve the way you do business.

2. Feeling part of the business- communicate regularly with employees by holding regular meetings to review performance and discuss forthcoming projects and deadlines.

3. Keep the faith - all great relationships are built on trust. Build an atmosphere of empowerment and teamwork. Allow staff to make decisions on their own and avoid a blame culture by acknowledging mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process.

4. Be a good listener - the key to any successful partnership is always being prepared to listen. Try to put yourself in your staffís shoes to understand exactly where they are coming from.

5. Celebrate the good times - all too often in business, we focus on the negatives and pay little or no heed to the positives. Praise your employees when they are doing a great job and celebrate that new business win by opening a bottle of bubbly!

6. Make the small things count - get in tune with your gentler side and think about what steps you can take to make your staffís working environment better. Simple touches such as a pleasant room for tea breaks, free tea/coffee and biscuits and fresh flowers in reception can significantly improve the working environment.

7. Lighten up and have some fun - donít be afraid to adopt a more relaxed approach to work. Introduce ëdress down Fridaysí or pin up a ëjoke of the weekí on the notice board. Use social events to introduce an element of fun, such as a monthly drink at the local pub.

8. Find out what makes them tick - donít be afraid to ask your employees what their needs are and what motivates them. Money isnít the ëbe all and end allí to everyone, there are many alternative benefits that are powerful motivators including: flexible working hours, additional unpaid leave and training courses.

9. Cherish your top performers - donít lose valued employees to the competition. Review pay and benefits on an annual basis to ensure you are in line with the industry standard and reward outstanding performance or loyalty accordingly.

10. Share your passion! - the passion you have for your business can be infectious to your employees, giving them pride in what they do and increasing their loyalty. Demonstrate your belief in them and your commitment to the business.

David Robertson concludes: ìThe words ëromanceí, ëpassioní or ëcommitmentí are not used often enough in a business context. But the key to a truly successful, profitable business is to have a happy, motivated workforce that feels they are making a valued contribution. By taking the time to romance your staff, you will not only benefit from increased productivity and higher revenues but will be able to retain valued employees and attract higher calibre job candidates.î