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plan their lives by knowing they can get the time off that they need thus achieving a higher quality of life.

3. Maintain an open door policy. Your employees should feel safe coming to you with any problems that they have without the fear of retribution. This is the only way that you are able to know that they will trust in you to resolve their issues rather that remaining upset, and lowering their morale. I have even gone as far as to schedule one on one time with each of my employees on a quarterly basis.

4. Treat your employees the way you want to be treated. People know this, but don't practice it on a regular basis. If an employee does something wrong are you going to throw a fit over it, or are you going to treat them like an adult? The best boss I ever had rarely got angry. If I broke a policy or made a mistake he would simply tell me that I knew better than that. He let me know that if I continued then there would be consequences, but he never belittled me or made me feel inferior. Show your employees respect, and you will get respect in return.

5. Include your employees. People like to know that they make a difference in their workplace. They like to feel that they are a part of something. Ask for their advice on how to streamline things. Ask their advice on how to achieve better customer service. Besides making them feel more a part of the team, you may also find that many of them actually do have good ideas that will better their work environment.

6. Give timely reviews. I have heard far too often of employees that have worked at a place for a long period of time but never received a review. People want to know how they are performing. They want to know what you think they are doing well at, and where they can improve. Keep the reviews as objective as possible. Give examples in every category. You want these reviews to be as informational and educational as possible.

7. Share goals and results, and if possible include your employees in the setting of goals. How can you expect to have a team of individuals striving for the same goals if they don't know what those goals are, or where they stand in relation to accomplishing them. By having them help to set some of the goals you are getting their buy in. People are much more willing to strive to reach goals that they have helped to produce.

8. Create a fun atmosphere. I have kept a "funny board" everywhere I have worked. This has been a board where I post jokes, comics, pictures, etc...I am the only one allowed to post on it so I can keep it politically correct, but the employees have fun coming in to work each week to see what new and funny thing I have posted. It keeps the mood light, the atmosphere fun, and the employees love it.

Overall, keeping your employees motivated and happy is totally reliant on you. You are the leader and the atmosphere that you set determines your employees willingness to work hard for you.

Learn more about this author, Paul Huxley.
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