As a boss, one of the most important parts of your job is to ensure your employees feel appreciated, fulfilled and happy to work for you. As we all know, keeping your employees in good spirits is important for everything from office morale to successful client communications. Plus, unhappy employees could decrease productivity and increase turnover rate – two things that are detrimental to any business' success. One way to show your employees you appreciate them is through the way you communicate. Things like having an open-door policy and responding quickly to comments or concerns are great first steps, but you should also pay attention to even smaller details, such as the words and phrases you're using during conversations. Take a look at these phrases every boss should use more often:
'How are you?'
Talk about employee appreciation – the folks in your office want to feel like you care about them (and not just for their contributions to your bottom line). Don't be afraid to get a little personal with employees by checking in with them regularly. If you know someone's child just started middle school, ask about it! Or if one of your employees is going through something difficult, offer your support.
'I support you'
The phrase "the customer is always right" has become a pervasive customer-service mantra since it was first used by Sam Walton (of Wal-Mart), but it's actually a surefire way to make your employees feel like you don't have their back. Guess what? The customer isn't always right, and your employees should be able to stand up for themselves with the support of the company if a client is being unreasonable or combative.
'Here's why I made this decision'
To have respect you have to earn it, and to earn respect you should be open, honest and transparent with your employees. This means avoiding phrases like "because I said so" and "because that's the way we've always done it." Those are scapegoats, but worse, they completely shut down creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. You want your employees to be working to make your company's processes easier and better, and that means hearing them out – and explaining yourself clearly if they're concerned about something that's requested of them.
'What can I do?'
In the same vein, your employees don't want to air concerns if they're constantly being shut down or if all you do is apologize. As a boss, it's up to you to take responsibility for problems that arise, and that means being open to helping in any way you can.
'Thank you'
You can't ever go wrong with simple gratitude, no matter how big or small an employee's accomplishments are. "Thank you" is the most basic way of showing appreciation, but it's also the most personal and sincere. And it doesn't need to be said in a formal thank you card, either. The next time you're finishing up a meeting or dashing off a quick Post-It Note for your assistant, include a quick "thank you" and your employees will feel appreciated and acknowledged.