Why employees are your number one asset.

Are you in a position where you feel undervalued and unappreciated? You are not alone. With around 4.3 percent of workers (or around 113,000) surveyed in 2018, being dissatisfied at work, can lead to reduced productivity and negatively impacts wellbeing and workplace culture.

Over the past 5 years I have had 3 part time jobs where I have felt undervalued and unappreciated in each of them which has impacted negatively on my wellbeing and removed me emotionally from the workplace.

With the level of experience and knowledge I have attained over the years, my skill set was never utilized or acknowledged. I was repeatedly ignored, and positions of responsibility were often given to those much younger than me who lacked experience and knowledge.

When this was bought to Managements attention nothing was done. The more I mentioned it the more I was ignored. My employment was terminated in two positions, and I resigned in one. It seems that the more help you seek, the faster you are ignored and shown the door.

 This is what I have learnt over the past 5 years when it comes to employers/managers not being aware of how to identify and utilize employee’s skill sets to successfully grow a business.

The number one priority employers and managers should always do when leading is to learn to be humble and always be open and accepting to learn. Learning never stops. Use the skill set of employees to grow and develop the business. No Employer/Manager can know everything there is to know about a business. Especially if they have not worked in every area of the business from the ground up.

Job satisfaction is vital for any business wanting to make a profit. “Never push loyal employees to the point they no longer care.” Productivity will decline and this can have a flow on effect towards other employees as well. You want to avoid a tidal wave of dissatisfaction which could negatively impact your business long term.

“Take care of your employees and they will take care of your business” ~ Richard Branson. 

This should be the philosophy of every business and printed in all management manuals. All businesses interact with customers at some point and those employees who are working in a customer service role are the reason you are either making money or losing money. 

If those employees who are in a customer service role feel valued and appreciated, then chances are they will want to see the business do well and will move mountains to make sure customers know just how much they are valued and appreciated by the business they are choosing to buy from.

I have learnt that I do not need a management degree to know how to treat people. In every job I have had, customers preferred to deal with me than my colleagues. My customer service technique is teachable although no Manager has ever taken it upon themselves to utilize my skill set for the benefit of the business.

I have learnt that there are Managers who have no idea how to manage staff. Some are not willing to learn from those around them nor are they willing to utilize the skills sets of others for the greater good.

I have learnt that business owners can be oblivious to the running of the business from the ground up. Some would have no idea how each area of the business operates or how they can improve operations and increase profit.

I have learnt that employees are only numbers on paper in some businesses. They are not seen as beneficial or knowledgeable and only expect them to do the job they are paid to do.

I have learnt that employees have very few rights when it comes to how they are treated in the workplace especially those on casual contracts. Complaints are seen as negative and something that will lead to dismissal if an employee complains too much. I myself have even had my employment terminated because I bought managements failings to their attention too many times. Instead of being given the help I needed, I was shown the door.

“Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers” ~ Stephen R Covey. 

If you treat your employees poorly, they in turn may treat your customers in the same manner. It is very hard for an employee to fake how they are feeling especially when they are being treated poorly in the workplace. Attitude is everything in business. 

A happy, valued employee will have a vested interest in making sure the business does well, so they continue to be employed. When a business does badly it is more likely they will have to make staff redundant when they are forced to close. No one wants to be made redundant as job security is key to wellbeing.

I have learnt that some managers have no idea how to lead by example. Some are prone to micromanaging staff which is not helpful at all. Always be humble and prepared to do any task that you expect your employees to do. While you may hold a higher position of responsibility than them, never treat them as anything less than how you would treat yourself. 

I have learnt that staff are too afraid to speak up about the way they are treated for fair of retribution. Staff would prefer to remain unhappy in their job than to bring the issue to managements attention for fair of losing their job altogether.

Sadly, everything I have learnt has been negative. Why are so many Employers/Managers getting it wrong? Employees are the key to ensuring a businesses success or failure. It is time to change priorities and make workplace satisfaction the number ONE.

I would love to help make your workplace one where job satisfaction is seen as the number one priority for employers/managers. Message me if you need help.