Work and home life is a part of the daily routine that many of us are tasked with managing. Rise and grind in our careers and then carving out quality time for family. Unfortunately, not everyone can handle the everyday stresses as well as some people can. Sales figures, profit margins, and quarterly reports are just a few of the things that are associated with being a boss. Owning and running a business is already a high-pressure job in itself and many leaders lose sight of the human component of their business, their employees. However tension slowly builds in all of us, and sooner or later it will boil over if it isn’t addressed properly. You’d be surprised by how much productivity can rise if your staff feels as if their worries and pressures are of concern to their employer. Don’t look at this situation as babysitting or coddling, but rather addressing a critical need of individuals who contribute to your success. Your business should foster an environment where employees are not made to feel that they must bottle up their stress, put their head down and get on with their day. There are a few things you can implement, many right away, that can create an environment conducive to positive employee well-being and high productivity.

A Comfy Lounge Room, Anyone?

Sitting down or walking around for eight or so hours will eventually take its toll on anyone. Now it’s absolutely true that most people will get used to their working conditions and where there’s a will, there’s a way. Employees will find ways to make their work routine and environment more comfortable, whether it’s wearing comfortable attire or bringing a soft seat cushion to the office to sit on. However, there’s nothing quite like an extra haven at work itself. Therefore, if your work space exists in a commercial office building, a loft or a warehouse you should try to single out one room for intermittent employee R&R. This room will now be the lounge area where employees can come sit and indulge in some peace and quiet, when necessary. Think about the decor in the room such as chairs and sofas and aim to make them as comfortable as can be. Plants are a great addition and help to increase calm and minimize stress levels. Consider incorporating feng shui and of course, including input from your staff, where it makes sense.

Can We Talk?

Some work cultures are intimidating, resulting in employees being fearful of expressing their opinions to management. This type of limited access cuts off communication and undoubtedly impacts productivity. No employee should ever feel as though they cannot talk to upper management, without fear of repercussion. The inability to communicate disrupts office harmony and slowly but surely causes resentment to build. Resentment often leads to an influx of mistrust which often leads to subtle chaos. Workers begin to turn against management and dissension becomes a normal vibe in the workspace. This scenario is a business owner’s nightmare! Therefore, no manager or project lead should ever be too far out of reach of their subordinates and always willing to spend a few minutes chatting alone with the individual staff member if needed.

Well-Being Is A Constant

We’d like to think of ourselves as determined machines that will plow forward in the direction of our goals, and we won’t let anything get in our way. Now and then we’re reminded that we’re not indestructible. Modern businesses are implementing employee assistance programs and well-being measures to keep the mental stability of their employees intact. Things like occupational health checkups, counseling on hand via telephone, email and live chat, assistance with money troubles such as financial management, debt and legal advice to name but a few. Resources are needed to bring these services into your business which is why so many small businesses opt to undertake them via a professional third party. Be mindful that when people feel stressed, they’re less likely to be effective communicators, as they are likely to be bottling up their pain and or stress. When this breakdown occurs, it has a detrimental effect on morale, teamwork and the overall working atmosphere.

The Benefits Of A Community Vibe

You may be wondering why such proactive actions would be good for your business. Productivity can increase substantially just by improving the everyday lives of your employees. Various studies point to a figure just over double digits, and others say around an 8 percent markup of the effectiveness of each employee. Loyalty levels and attitude toward the direction companies wish to take also gets a boost as staff no longer feel as if they’re just another cog making the wheel turn. Tough decisions can, therefore, be weathered better also because if you’re cutting staff numbers or perhaps unable to give an annual bonus, at least some of the pushback can be absorbed with a clear intention of continued goodwill. Trust is a massive factor in how employees behave toward the internal workings of your business too. The simple and plain fact is if you show your employees you care they, in turn, will tend to reciprocate by way of their performance.

Letting tensions bubble under the surface is beyond shortsighted. Not only does it pose a risk to your workers, as tensions flare and employees are often left to take out their frustration on each other or your clients, but the basic tasks of the day will also become monotonous to a stressed employee. Motivation is just one of the casualties, coupled with a loss of profits because of missed targets. When you make counseling and health checkup services available to the average employee, it goes a long way to show you care about them on a personal level. The ultimate goal? Less stress, more productivity.
As a business owner, if you take care of your employees, I do believe they will be instrumental in taking care of your business.

*Collaborative post