Turn staffers into company ambassadors

We also know that unhappy employees can have the opposite effect.

So how do you make sure your employees are your ambassadors?  Rule No. 1:  Don’t think of it as how to make them ambassadors.

The idea that employees are your most promising ambassadors grows from the philosophy that your employees are not only assets to your business, but they also are a significant part of your life.

While employee satisfaction may be good for the bottom line, caring about your employees’ professional and family lives is simply the right way to do business.

Here are some of the concepts that can help growing companies foster a work environment that inspires employees to be ambassadors.

Create a good work environment.

There are too few people who look forward to going to their jobs each day.  Some of them dislike what they do, some dislike where they work and the really unfortunate people dislike both.

One of the best ways of making employees excited about coming to work is to foster a positive environment.  To start, when hiring a new employee, ask yourself, “Will this person fit in well with co-workers and our company culture, while bringing new and interesting qualities to the office?”

Also, listen to your employees. Some may prefer more formal review processes; others may just want to talk over lunch about how things are going with their job performance.  Ask what they enjoy in their job, which tasks they don’t feel good about, and what they may want to try.  As much as possible, try to empower them in making changes.

Keep employees informed about company philosophies, news and upcoming changes.

Your employees probably can’t recite your mission statement on command, nor should they be expected to. But they should know about the conscious decisions being made that reflect that mission.

Keep employees updated on important job issues, such as retirement plans and health insurance premiums. Communicate this information with employees and ask for their feedback on what is working well and what isn’t. Also make it a priority to meet regularly as a team on company issues so that everyone has the opportunity to ask questions and provide input.

Keeping employees informed helps them feel better about what is happening, and lessens the chance that these topics will start rumors in or outside the office.

Consider every person in your company an important part of your team.

In general, people want to feel like they are part of something larger than themselves.  One way to help build a team atmosphere is to do a show-and-tell of finished projects at company/team meetings. To feel connected, employees need to know what other team members are working on and how they fit into their company’s big picture.

Extend team-building outside of the office.  Coordinate social activities such as theater performances, baseball games, dinners, or even out-of-town trips to encourage team-building.  You may also consider holding family activities, such as a Halloween party, pool party or a holiday open house.

Don’t forget the little things. Sometimes simple comforts like a kitchen/break room stocked with snacks, birthday celebrations and spur-of-the-moment activities can make an office a fun and welcoming place. These kinds of little things are what make people happy about coming to work, and are often the topics they share when describing their jobs to others.

When people enjoy their jobs and feel valued and respected, they produce good work.

Be family-friendly.

Family comes first.  Sometimes this means that an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule does not work for someone every day.  It is helpful to work with employees individually when they need flexibility for child care, medical appointments, illnesses, field trips and issues that cannot be foreseen.

Make working from home an option in certain situations, or allow employees to bring their kids with them to work for a few hours when the need arises. Welcoming children to the office will help employees feel less stressed about balancing their work and family life, especially when unexpected events occur.

You may also consider offering ‘compassionate leave’, which is more accommodating than basic sick leave, to help employees be with their kids when they need to be.

Showing your employees that they are important and appreciated is important in and of itself.  The fact that creating a good work culture leads many people to become your unofficial ambassadors is simply a side benefit.

So remember rule No. 1:  Your employees are not made into ambassadors. Rather, employees become ambassadors of their own free will because of the positive work environments and strong team connections you provide.