Fostering positive feelings and goodwill among your employees is an investment with many returns. Most companies invest significant resources into recruiting, screening and training their people, but all too often forget that fostering good feelings that help drive motivation like goodwill and loyalty, are the key to keeping good people.
Certainly extrinsic benefits like a fair and reasonable wage, a 401(k) plan or health care can create loyalty among employees, but what about intrinsic benefits? The reality is that no matter how much we enjoy our jobs, most of us have a host of other things like hobbies and family time we would rather be doing. But though perhaps not our first choice of how we spend our time, work can be an incredibly positive experience. So where can we focus our attention to help make our people feel good about the work they do, feel a part of a larger community that helps strengthen our company culture and see work as a positive experience they look forward to? There are a host of ways and we’d love to hear your ideas, but here are a few of our favorites.
Do Good To Feel Good
One relatively straight forward way to foster good feelings within your company is to get involved in a worthy nonprofit. A company-run nonprofit contribution allows employees to get involved in both small-scale and larger-scale giving. An employee who contributes even just a dollar to a worthy cause can feel significant and connected when the company as a whole donated $500. With organizations like One Simple Wish, a nonprofit that dedicates itself to filling wishes of kids in foster care, you can for as little as $75, give someone something very special. Imagine how your employees would feel about helping to buy a bike for a twelve year old that has never had one or give a family a membership at a local zoo? One Simple Wish allows you to search locally so as a company, you can pick children and families in your very own backyard. You can pick any cause that you think fits your culture and ideas. Giving can be a way of connecting many diverse people for a common goal. Likewise, we all tell ourselves “stories” about our lives, our work and the people around us. Experiences like giving make for a good “story.”
Attitudes Are Contagious
Smiles, pleases and thank yous are so often undervalued in our busy, oh so busy culture. Positivity is POSITIVELY catching, so go infect others with your own cheery attitude. Not feeling it? No worries, fake it to make it. Be cheery and positive and you will find those good feelings gaining the foothold in your mood.
Sure You're Interesting, But Are You Interested?
Whether you are the big boss or the lowest guy on the totem pole, we all want to be heard and valued. All too often, we spend so much time wanting others to see us as interesting, intelligent and more that we forget how powerful it can be to give our attention and interest to another. Some of the most respected and loved leaders in history understood this very well. Pay attention, ask questions, remember names and things you have been told, be interested in the people around you and people will flock to you and your company.
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