09 Nov Entrepreneur Tip of the Week: It’s Nice to be Nice

Many entrepreneurs I know lament that their employees are not loyal to or respectful of them as boss. It is one thing to insist that workers firmly believe in the mission statement of the company to be motivated. It is another to demand loyalty, which I believe must be earned.

To get loyalty, I believe you must give loyalty. Making your key staff feel valued, appreciated, and, maybe most important, heard is crucial in retaining hardworking and smart employees. A client of mine once mentioned frustration at consistently losing his best employees to other companies. One of his senior executives had confided in me that he was on the verge of quitting because of the way his boss (my client) treated the employees. It wasn’t because he demanded long hours and hard work, but that he did not appreciate his employees for putting up with his crazy work ethic. One of his workers quit after my client didn’t allow him to attend the funeral of a close friend. Upon hearing this, I sat my client down and told him something I apply with my employees: “It’s nice to be nice.”

One of the least expensive and most efficient ways to create a sense of loyalty in the workplace is simply to be nice. This doesn’t mean you take it easy with regard to your expectations of your staff. But when problems arise don’t yell – have thoughtful conversations with constructive criticism. And make an effort to care about their lives, without crossing the line of being unprofessional. Arranging special events away from the office can also be important. Whether you host a traditional holiday party or get creative with a summer cocktail gathering, being nice and caring pays off. Silly things like offering free snacks and soda in the break room, or a dress-down Friday policy, are things that can go a long way. It’s really the little things that count. Like being nice.