Do you listen to your employees enough? You probably think so, but according to a recent study, 64% of workers said that leaders making decisions without seeking input was their biggest frustration on the job. That frustration can lead to job dissatisfaction and ultimately to turnover, but fortunately, it’s an easy problem to fix. Here are five good reasons why you should be listening to your employees more.
Listening To Your Employees Can Keep Them Motivated
If employees feel like no one above them is listening to them, it can eat away at their desire to take initiative. Failing to listen to employees makes them feel dismissed or even invisible, which can be highly demoralizing. When employees feel like someone hears them, they are much more likely to try harder and produce more each day.
Listening Can Foster Innovation
All great ideas don’t come from the top. In fact, most great ideas actually begin at the bottom, with the people who are on the front lines. As leaders move up the ladder, they become more removed from day-to-day processes. The people executing the work every day often have input and ideas that can improve processes, increase morale and boost the bottom line. Contests, rewards and bonus structures are a great way to encourage employees to share their ideas – and to make them feel listened to.
Listening Makes You Proactive
Have you ever had a crisis pop up at work and had an employee say to you, “I tried to warn you?” It’s happened to most leaders at least once, but if you are constantly putting out fires, part of the problem could be that you aren’t listening to your employees. They are the ones who can help you spot trouble brewing, allowing you and your team to head issues off at the pass, before they become major problems.
Listening To Employees Can Impact Retention
When employees feel like plans and processes are imposed upon them, they won’t feel good about change. Over time, employees are likely to leave if they feel like their input isn’t valuable. When plans and processes are developed with employee input, however, team members feel like they have a say and a stake in what’s happening around them which can boost long-term retention.
Listening Can Boost The Bottom Line
Taken all together, the benefits of listening all add up to one result – a better bottom line. Motivated, happy employees are productive, they innovate new ideas and they help continually improve processes. What can you do right now to make your employees feel as though you are listening to their input?
Looking for More Tips on Team Engagement?
If you are looking for new ways to boost productivity and engagement at your workplace, The Reserves Network can help. Contact our recruiting experts today to learn more.