There are many things you have to get right if you’re starting a new business. The product has to sell, of course! But as well as this, you need a strong online presence, a coherent marketing strategy, and a solid financial plan to ensure long-term stability.
Perhaps more important than all of those points, however, is your team. No matter how great your product or marketing strategy is, without a strong team that is willing to put the work in, your business is unlikely to thrive.
From the very beginning, you need a team that is aligned with your company’s vision, values, and goals, and to achieve this, you need to create a healthy working environment that nurtures people.
So how exactly can you create a healthy working environment? We’re going to look into a few ways to do this below, giving you all the tips you need to kick things off on the right foot.
First Off, Ensure Proper Insurance Coverage
There are many insurance policies you need to look into as a first-time business owner, including employment practices liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, but you’re not just attaining this coverage to protect your business – you’re doing it to ensure your employees feel secure.
No matter how much you prepare for the unexpected, accidents and mistakes can always happen. Just last year, it was reported that there were nearly 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries, and with lawsuits also on the rise in the US, it’s only natural that employees will feel a level of uncertainty in their work environment. By providing this coverage, however, you’re showing your employees that you are proactive in protecting their health, safety, and rights at work, giving them confidence that all the risks are covered.
Foster Open Communication
Another area that you need to get right involves open communication. Over the last few years, more and more businesses have been shifting to remote work, and while this has numerous benefits, it has highlighted an issue in how teams are communicating.
With employees scattered across different locations, there has been a distinct rise in workers feeling isolated and unappreciated, and this is incredibly dangerous for companies looking for strong employment retention. Even in an office environment, constant and open communication is a must to keep employees engaged, giving them a platform to voice their feelings, concerns, ideas, and feedback.
To do this, simply prioritise regular check-ins and team meetings, with an open-door policy where employees feel comfortable approaching management. Recognising employee contributions is another crucial thing to get right. It might not seem like much, but a simple acknowledgement of hard work can go a long way in making employees feel appreciated and heard, establishing a positive culture of transparency and trust.
Prioritise Employee Well-Being Above Anything Else
Results are important, there’s no doubt about that. As a leader, you need to drive your team to work hard and meet targets as often as possible, but that’s not an excuse to push them too hard. A healthy work environment begins with considering the well-being of your employees, encouraging a work-life balance by offering flexible hours, time off for stress, and remote work options when possible.
Essentially, you need to ensure your team feels supported in both their professional and personal lives. If you do this, not only will the environment be a positive one, but you’ll also find that their productivity and engagement are boosted, helping the business to meet those targets in a more sustainable and effective way.
Employee burn out is also something you should avoid. For those unaware, employee burnout is on the rise in the US, with many workers saying they live in a state of chronic physical or emotional exhaustion, caused by prolonged workplace stress. With burnout easily leading to decreased motivation and lower performance, it’s up to you to prevent this from happening and create a culture where employees are happy in their work.
