3 Solid Ways to Create Lasting Employee Loyalty

Would you be surprised to discover that more than half of the workforce is unhappy about their work environment?

For decades we believed that the monetary rewards for the jobs they do is enough incentive for the employees to be happy and loyal to you or your company. Now we know that’s not the case. Money can be a motivation to do a good job, but it’s not the strongest motivation. On the contrary, it ranks on the lower bottom of the top 10 things that make employees loyal and dedicated.

At heart, most of us have childlike desires. Our emotional needs are dictating how we behave and how much we involve ourselves in everything we do.

Read on to discover how to motivate your employees and inspire them to be loyal to your company.

1. Love your business

Your personal example is the most powerful way to inspire your employees. It gives them the sense that what you build together matters and is worth commitment, time, and energy.

If you, as the business owner, don’t show yourself in love with the mission of your business, those around you can’t see the importance of what they do.

Considering that one of the essential emotional need we have is to feel useful, people get tired pretty quickly of any job that doesn’t fulfill that need.

If you’ve ever experienced first-hand training people for a job, most probably you’ve noticed that they want to know “the why” behind everything that comes with the job description: What is the purpose? What and who is it serving? How is their job making a difference?

Love your business and show off that love with every opportunity.

2. Take full advantage of your experiences

It sounds so logical to learn the lessons that life gives you at every step you make. However, the reality is we often allow impulse to shape our actions.

“Oh no! I’ve done it again. I don’t get it how is possible to make the same mistake over and over.”

If this happens to you too, you might panic thinking that is something wrong with your memory. Yet, you can’t remember things you haven’t stored in your memory.

Yes, it makes a lot of sense to take advantage of your experiences. However, many times we are distracted and don’t pay attention to what’s going on. Later, we have a vague recollection of what has happened and blame our memory.

Listen, most times when you don’t remember important things it’s not because your memory is flawed, but because you give too little attention to the present moment. Getting lost in your thoughts is to blame for vague events recollection.

So, to be able to take full advantage of your experiences: live as much as you can in the present moment; make a habit of noticing when something important it’s happening; keep a journal with your observations and lessons learned—it can become your memory in case that you (like the rest of us) get lost in thoughts about the future or the past forgetting the present.

3. Build an enjoyable work environment

A large number of small businesses fail because of the owner treating employees as friends. Make no mistake. As the business owner, it’s a positive thing to have a friendly attitude. Yet, keep in mind that your employees are not your friends because if they were you have to make too many concessions, overlook mistakes, and involve yourself in their private problems. Is it not?

Build an enjoyable work environment by balancing what you offer and what you’re asking.

Most employees enjoy going to work if they:

• Receive feedback (don’t mistake it with criticism)
• Believe their work is making a difference
• Get along with the coworkers
• Feel that what they do is bringing out the best in them
• Have the sense they are important, needed and useful
• See positive results from their work

Do you want to create loyalty for your business from your employees?

Remember these simple things:

• Show them how much you love your business and why
• Keep your mind more in the present moment so you can take full advantage of your experiences
• Create a work environment that brings out the best in people