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Keeping employees motivated and happy is the key to any successful business or team, yet it is also one of the hardest things to accomplish. Companies, managers, directors, and presidents are recognizing how important it is to hire and retain the best of the best, the bottom line is that it costs less to recruit, train and pay you then it does to recruit, train, pay and start over again. So what are the best guidelines to keeping your employees happy and motivated?

1. The Golden Rule

Do onto others as you would have done onto you applies in the situation, as it does in most. Think way back to when you weren't the boss. When you weren't in charge of other people, what were the things you appreciated from your superiors? What were the items you made a mental note to never do to anyone else? What were the things that made you proud of your job, and willing to go the extra mile? While the people on your job may not have the exact tastes, it's a good bet that what made you happy will also make them happy.

2. Talk Talk Talk

The hardest thing for any employee to do is to approach their bosses, but that becomes 100 times harder when your boss comes across as unapproachable. Make efforts to talk to your employees, get to know them, and engage them in conversations. Make it apparent that not only are you available to talk, but you're willing to do so as well. Communicate to them that your door is always open to them and that you want them to come to you with things.

3. Say Thank You.

Say thank you, and mean it. You can't force yourself to become a nice person over night, but it can be amazing to find how far a sincere thank you can get you with some people. It has to be sincere and can not be forced. Don't say thank you if you don't really mean it, but whenever you mean it, say thank you.

4. Respect your employees time

Employees often feel that corporations take and take from them and they get nothing in return. (Forget about that paycheck, of course!) Even though you are paying them to complete the job they were hired for, it's still important to realize that they don't only work. They have lives outside of work, or would like to, and respect that sometimes they won't be available for you. Appreciate the time and effort they do give you. (Bonus to this is they'll hopefully reciprocate the respect!)

5. Nurture a positive atmosphere

Laughter always brings out the best in people and relationships, and it goes the same for corporate environments. Don't hesitate to keep the atmosphere as light as it can be. Make fun of the situation you're all in if it's really bad. Celebrate team success, and don't dwell on team disappointments.

Learn more about this author, A. Moulton.
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