Inspire Your Employees to Higher Levels of Productivity with These Tips

Pivot International  |   November 16, 2017

With the many degrees of separation between the executive level and that of the frontline workforce, it can be easy for C-level executives to forget that we have an important role to play in creating a positive, productive company culture.

In fact, inspiring your employees to ever-greater heights, whether they work in creative or production departments, should be one of the most important roles a CEO plays within a company.

Here are some tips for helping you lead  your workforce toward success.

Keep communication open

Have you told your employees lately how much you value them and the contribution they make to your company? Appreciation is a vital step in creating a happier, more inspired workforce.

Whether you do it through one-on-one conversations or an encouraging message to your employees as a group, it’s important to let them know about a new benchmark the company may have set, or a new level of production you’ve reached because of their efforts.

Of course, it works the other way, too. Employees need to know that you’re accessible to them should they have a concern or idea for the company’s improvement.

Share your vision for the company

Have you clearly expressed your vision for the company to your managers employees? You might have a mission statement that they’re familiar with, but that can often become a distant message that lives somewhere on your company’s website – not in the everyday goings-on of the organization itself.

Rather than simply disseminating a flat mission statement, talk to your employees about the idea behind your company, your goals for it, and your plans to help it get there. Passion is an inspiring emotion, and if you can get that feeling across to the people who work for you, they’ll feel more connected to you and your business.

Engage in the feedback process

Feedback isn’t just about praise or constructive criticism. It can create a conversational bond between you and your employees. Obviously, there will be supervisors below who you carry on the majority of the employee evaluations, but it doesn’t hurt to look for opportunities to become more involved. That may mean recognizing a particularly outstanding employee, or suggesting incentives to help a department reach a challenging goal.

Becoming an active participant in your company’s feedback and evaluation processes can help you create a feeling of family within your company.

Be a steward of your company’s story

There have probably been many key moments in the growth and development of your company –  stories that you can use to help foster a sense of community among your employees.

How has the company grown and changed over time? What is its origin story? What challenges did the original founders face? Where do you see the company in 5 years?

Don’t be shy about sharing your own personal story, as well. Have you experienced key moments of learning throughout your leadership career? Are there particular values that you’ve developed due to a challenge or setback?

When employees feel like part of a team rather than the bottom of a pyramid, you’ll have a happier workforce, higher levels of productivity, and ultimately, more success.

Remember, the most important part of being a CEO is being a leader – not just of the company, but of the people who make it operate. For more, read “3 Global Realities That Every CEO Needs to be Aware of.”