Finding effective ways to problem solve is a powerful way to attract and retain top talent. When your company develops a reputation for having a culture that invites open, honest communication, you become a “destination employer.” Sometimes the solutions lie in the benefits you provide; other times they arise from supportive personal interactions with colleagues and management.
Demonstrably helping employees with their needs can also have a positive ripple effect within an organization, helping to prevent disruptions in production and quality of work as well as increasing morale.
SHRM recently released a report stating that “respectful treatment of all employees” was the No. 1 contributor to job satisfaction. And “trust between employees and senior management” was second. That’s an amazingly simple idea for a surprisingly common challenge.
This means that above all of the perks and management tricks, treating each other with kindness and respect is what really matters. That’s why developing a culture of appreciation and trust should be a priority.
Sounds simple. But how do you go about doing that? Here are several suggestions to help you get started:
Listen to each other
A true dialogue only occurs if both sides are listening. When you’re actually listening to the other person, you’re not simply waiting to talk. Active listening makes people feel more comfortable sharing their concerns. This is a process that goes well beyond a single engagement survey. This is where you collect regular, ongoing employee feedback..
Show employees that you care
In the same way you nod to someone to show them you are listening, make sure employees see some kind of action associated with the feedback they give you. Well-intentioned feedback efforts can backfire if nothing is done with the information.
Employees need to know that they’re being heard. Transparency goes a long way to creating a culture of respect and trust.
Show that you’re willing to help
People who respect each other ultimately support each other holistically, both personally and professionally. When employees feel confident that you’re listening, that you really do care about what happens to them, and you demonstrate that you will go above and beyond to help them, engagement soars and they’ll be fully engaged.
Developing a transparent culture where employees can give honest and direct feedback, knowing it will be heard and shared with the right people – and positive actions will be taken – is essential to getting them to talk about issues.
But how do you do it?
Start at the top to make sure there’s no “Us versus them”
When workers show respect toward one another employee engagement increase. When a manager shows his or her employees respect by example, it sets the foundation for a positive workplace culture.
In 2017, the Society of Human Resources Management conducted a survey in which 72 percent of employees responding rated showing respect of all employees as “very important.” It was the top contributor to overall employee job satisfaction. Likewise, a survey by Harvard Business Review of more than 20,000 employees found that respect was the No. 1 behavior that leads to greater engagement and commitment.
Good communication and collaboration starts at the top. Leaders need to build practices that strengthen relationships between teams. Once employees believe that it’s the way they’re supposed to work, they’ll be more open and engaged.
So how do you show respect?
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate
It doesn’t really matter how you do it, whether through blogs, employee feedback programs, employee recognition programs or newsletters. It’s the fact that you’ve made a commitment to open conversations and transparency that matters.
Hold regularly scheduled meetings for everyone
All it takes is a quick meeting. Share what’s going on with the business. Make employees feel as though they are part of the team, rather than cogs in the wheel. This helps establish a culture of transparency by setting the tone for your organization. By sharing important information in a straight-forward, candid way, you allow individuals to feel that they can do the same. Encourage interaction and questions. And remember to listen.
Give employees multiple ways to provide feedback
Some people prefer to talk directly to a manager. Others prefer to remain anonymous. So, make sure you provide multiple ways to collect feedback, including regular manager meetings, suggestion boxes, etc. And remember, asking for feedback is great, but employees need to know you’re going to act on it, or why you’re not.
Make sure employees feel continually connected
In other words, don’t start something like weekly meetings and anonymous suggestion boxes, and then not pay appropriate attention to the suggestions. Keeping employees in the loop and making them feel as though they truly have a voice requires consistency.
When all employees are able to offer thoughts and information, and speak up to management you’ll see the most growth, and you’ll attract and retain the best talent. Transparent environments matter a lot to the growing millennial workforce, and they’ll make up half your employees by 2030.
Give opportunity for sharing
Make sure employees have ample opportunity to explain their idea or position. Provide guidance. By doing so, you communicate care and respect. Make sure you’re all in this together. Rely on one another and get rid of whatever stands in the way of greater productivity and engagement.
When you get people talking and sharing, you open a network for new ideas and better ways to run the business.
See positive effects on the bottom line
As employee engagement increases, you will see stress levels reduce and knowledge sharing increase which can ultimately boost your organization’s bottom line. Engagement and respect foster a positive work environment where managers and employees alike become encouragers of others. People look forward to coming to work rather than dreading it and that shows in productivity and profit.
Marsh & McLennan Agency has a long history of helping our clients analyze business problems and opportunities, and then helping them develop the right plans to take action. If you’d like to talk with us about what direction to take and how to create a culture of open and honest communication, contact your local Marsh & McLennan Agency representative.
You May Also Be Interested In
- Event
01.27.2021
Webinar | The New Norm: Maintaining Productivity While Working From Home
- Event
02.09.2021
Webinar | 1+2=5? Understanding Your Benefits Cafeteria Plan
- Event
03.16.2021
Webinar | Pay Equity Disputes and Risks
- Blog
01.21.2021
The 5 New Realities of 2021
- Event
01.20.2021
Webinar | New Developments in the Classification of Workers
- Blog
01.14.2021
Benefits News and Views
- Event
01.13.2021
Webinar | Leave of Absence and Return to Work Issues in the Era of COVID-19
- Blog
12.31.2020
WellConnected Resources
- Event
12.17.2020
Webinar | Year End Checklist 2020 and Future Forecast 2021
- Event
11.19.2020
Webinar | ACA Reporting Requirements 2020
- Event
11.12.2020
Webcast | 2020 Election Results: The Impact to Benefit Plans
- Blog
11.12.2020
Live Well Work Well Newsletters
- Event
10.21.2020
Webinar | Telemedicine: Permanent Solution or Temporary Fix
- Event
10.15.2020
Webinar | Health Savings Accounts 2020
- Blog
10.14.2020
INSIGHTS Newsletter
- Event
10.08.2020
Webcast | A Tale of Two Breaches
- Event
10.08.2020
Lunch & Learn: Take Charge Health
- Blog
09.24.2020
DOL Issues New FFCRA Leave Guidance
- Event
09.17.2020
Webinar | FMLA and Employee Benefits 2020
- Event
09.15.2020
Webcast | Benefit Administration: State of the Market
- Blog
08.21.2020
Open Enrollment Going Virtual
- Event
08.20.2020
Webinar | Compliance Considerations When Self-Insuring 2020
- Event
07.22.2020
WEBINAR | Next Chapter: Massachusetts Family Leave Act 2021
- Event
07.21.2020
Webcast | Senior Care - The New Normal
- Event
07.16.2020
Webinar | Annual Required Notices 2020
- Event
06.25.2020
Webinar | Paycheck Protection Program- Q & A Town Hall
- Event
06.17.2020
Webinar | Financial Wellbeing: Essential to the Health of Your Employees
- Blog
06.17.2020
National Safety Month: Check Your Safety Lens with a safety perception survey
- Blog
06.16.2020
Connecting with Your Five Employee Demographics
- Event
05.21.2020
Webinar | COBRA 2020
- Event
05.19.2020
Webinar | Legal and Compliance Return to the Workplace: Considerations for Employers
- Event
04.30.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.30.20
- Blog
04.28.2020
Employee Mental Health: More Vulnerable Than Ever During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Blog
04.20.2020
Diversity and Inclusion and the Battle for Talent
- Event
04.16.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.16.20
- Event
04.09.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.9.20
- Event
04.02.2020
Webcast | Update on COVID-19: Navigating the Coronavirus and Managing the Impact
- Event
03.30.2020
WEBCAST | Employee Benefits & 401K Compliance During The Coronavirus Outbreak
- Event
03.24.2020
Webinar | Navigating the Coronavirus and Managing the Impact
- Event
03.12.2020
Webinar | The Power of Food
- Blog
02.06.2020
AD&D: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
- Event
01.23.2020
Seminar | Employment Law Landscape 2020
- Blog
01.16.2020
Employee Health & Benefits 2020 and Beyond
- Event
12.19.2019
Webinar | Year End Checklist and Future Forecast
- Blog
12.09.2019
Employee Benefits and Perks – Life Science Industry Raises The Bar
- Blog
12.05.2019
Financial Wellness
- Blog
12.03.2019
Building the Foundation for a Successful Implementation
- Event
11.21.2019
Webinar | ACA Reporting Requirements
- Blog
11.05.2019
Before the Turn of the Decade: Important Reminders Regarding Employee Benefits
- Event
10.17.2019
Webinar | Health Savings Accounts
- Blog
10.07.2019
4 Ways to Improve Open Enrollment
- Blog
09.24.2019
The Importance of Communication in a Multi-Generation Workforce
- Event
09.19.2019
Webinar | New HRA Options
- Blog
09.17.2019
How to Recruit and Retain Your Millennial Workforce
- Event
09.12.2019
Webinar | New Developments with HRAs and 2020
- Blog
09.10.2019
5 Employee Wellness Initiatives That Work
- Event
08.15.2019
Webinar | Association Health Plans
- Blog
08.02.2019
Podcast | Choosing Your Broker
- Blog
08.01.2019
Wearable Health Care Technology: Fashion Fad or the Future?
- Event
07.18.2019
Webinar | Annual Required Notices 2019
- News
06.21.2019
MMA Midwest Named Second Largest Dayton-Area Employee Benefits Company
- Event
06.20.2019
Webinar | Mid-Year Compliance Review
- Blog
06.20.2019
A New Era of Employee-Centric Work Perks
- Event
05.29.2019
Seminar | Pharmacy - Everyone's talking about it, but what can I do?
- Event
05.16.2019
Webinar | Wellness Programs
- Blog
04.26.2019
Massachusetts Releases New Guidance and Employee Notice Template For Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
- Event
04.25.2019
Webinar | Total Worker Health
- Event
04.18.2019
Webinar | HIPAA Privacy & Security Training
- Blog
04.11.2019
April is National Wellness Month
- Blog
04.11.2019
Approaching Healthcare Benefits Strategically
- Event
03.21.2019
Webinar | Federal Continuation Coverage
- Blog
03.15.2019
Five Ways Employee Benefits Are Advantageous for Smaller Businesses
- Event
02.21.2019
Webinar | FMLA & Employee Benefits
- Event
01.29.2019
Employment Law Landscape 2019
- Event
01.17.2019
Webinar: ACA Reporting Requirements
- Blog
01.16.2019
Understanding the Changes to Minnesota’s Whistleblower Act
- Blog
01.10.2019
2019: What to Expect in Employee Health & Benefits
- Event
12.20.2018
Webinar | 2018 Year in Review & Future Benefits Forecast
- Blog
12.20.2018
Making a List and Checking It Twice
- Event
12.14.2018
Webinar | Q4 2018 Health Care Reform Update
- Blog
12.12.2018
Can Telemedicine Make Health Care Benefits Healthier?
- Blog
12.03.2018
Employment Law Update: Minimum Wage Keeps Climbing
- News
11.29.2018
Engaging Your Employees Requires Your Own Engagement
- Blog
11.29.2018
IRS Increase Health FSA Contribution Limit for 2019 & Adjusts Other Benefit Limits
- Event
11.20.2018
Webinar | Back to Basics: Consumer-Based Plans 101
- Blog
11.08.2018
Four Steps Employers Can Take to Help Alleviate the Opioid Crisis
- Blog
11.02.2018
Compliance Update: HRAs Poised For a Facelift
- Blog
10.25.2018
The Impact of Stress in the Workplace
- Event
10.18.2018
Webinar | Annual Required Notices
- Event
10.12.2018
Webinar | Q3 2018 Health Care Reform Update
- Blog
10.09.2018
IRS Releases Final 2018 ACA Reporting Forms and Instructions
- Blog
10.05.2018
What are the Government's Plans to Solve the Opioid Problem?
- Blog
09.20.2018
The Competition For Employees Intensifies
- Event
09.18.2018
The Opioid Epidemic: A Public Health Crisis
- Blog
09.17.2018
Is Marijuana the Answer to the Opioid Addiction Problem?
- Blog
09.12.2018
Compliance Update: Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Under the Affordable Care Act
- Blog
09.11.2018
2018 Stop-Loss Survey
- Event
09.06.2018
Webinar | Association Health Plans
- Blog
09.06.2018
Rule #1 For Effective Open Enrollment: Start Early
- Blog
08.21.2018
Tobacco: Still Affecting Businesses’ Financial Health
- Blog
08.17.2018
Open Enrollment: Ways to Control Costs
- Event
08.16.2018
Webinar | Surviving a DOL Audit
- Blog
08.07.2018
Open Enrollment: The Benefits of Smarter Communications
- Blog
08.06.2018
The Opioid Crisis: Using Alternative Approaches to Manage Pain
- Blog
07.25.2018
Is An EAP Worth The Investment?
- Blog
07.17.2018
Opioid Addiction in the Workplace: Managing Behavior Versus Fighting Addiction
- Blog
07.10.2018
Performance Management – It’s More Than An Annual Review
- Blog
06.29.2018
The DOL's New Association Health Plan Rules and What They Actually Mean
- Event
06.21.2018
Webinar | 2018 Mid-Year Compliance Update
- Event
06.05.2018
Topics on Tap: #MeToo, #TimesUp and You- Getting Harassment Training Right
- Blog
05.30.2018
The Opioid Crisis: A Serious Societal and Business Issue
- Blog
05.07.2018
Consider the Fair Labor Standard Act for Internships
- Blog
04.09.2018
Workplace Harassment - Can You Practice Zero Tolerance?
- Event
01.23.2018
Employment Law Landscape 2018
- Blog
12.27.2017
Employee Benefits in 2018
- Blog
10.13.2017
Telemedicine and HSAs
- Blog
10.06.2017
Data Breach Risks During Annual Enrollment
- Blog
09.26.2017
Annual Enrollment
- Event
03.14.2017
The Future of Health Care & Employee Benefits