As a business leader, you have people that rely on you. Your employees are the heart of your business; without them, nothing would get done. Likewise, without you, there would be nothing to get done. A well-balanced, symbiotic relationship with your workers will serve you well in the business world.
Given the current state of uncertainty, keeping employees informed is more important than ever. Unknowns are everywhere, making it hard to plan for the future. Proactively sharing information with your employees will help them feel secure in their job, knowing they won’t be left high and dry when issues arise.
Being Transparent
So how do you nurture a healthy, trusting relationship with your employees? The only answer is through building trust and transparency in all your communications with them. Admittedly, it can feel strange and even uncomfortable to be completely transparent with your employees. But overcoming that discomfort is the first step toward a better workplace environment.
Perhaps as an employer, you feel that being open and honest will scare your employees off. But imagine how scary it is for them when they know something is wrong, but they don’t know what it is.
Keeping employees in the loop fosters a sense of trust, reliability, and job security. When workers feel that their boss is honest with them, it will set their minds at ease. Nobody wants to be blindsided by the machinations of the upper management, especially at a time like this. They want and deserve to know the truth.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Here are some tips you can use today to improve the management-employee relationship:
- Promote problem-solving. You can’t finish a puzzle if you’re missing some of the pieces. When you are transparent with your workers, you hand them what they need to complete the puzzle. Giving them the tools they need right away improves their ability to solve problems quickly and effectively.
- Enable better teamwork. Now that your team has the pieces they need, it’s up to them to put the puzzle together. If you’re confident in your team’s ability, then you already know they can handle what they’re given. Honesty from you will help them be honest with each other and will promote creative, realistic, and team-oriented solutions.
- Encourage trust in leadership. A “taking care of number one” attitude can leave employees feeling disenfranchised with their leaders. If they don’t feel like they can trust you to look out for their best interests, they’ll likely seek opportunities elsewhere. Transparency, especially during tough times, will cement your role as a leader with integrity. Your employees will trust and look up to you.
- Peak performance. Improved employee performance is built on all of the above. The right tools, teamwork, and—most importantly—trust in one another will help both you and your employees achieve success.
In conclusion, being transparent with your employees will make everyone happier in the long run, and it will also help your business run more smoothly. Be the leader that holds their employees’ trust and loyalty. Everyone, including you, will be better for it.
Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you improve transparency, build trust, and strengthen the connection with your employees.
