Your employees are an integral part of your business and their feedback -- both positive and negative -- is critical to your success. But in tough times, people are less likely to speak their minds, especially when they’re anxious about their jobs.
At Entrepreneur.com, Chris Penttila shares tips on breaking the “silence barrier”:
- Look at Your Company Culture: Do employees feel free to share their ideas and opinions, or are they routinely ignored? Assess your culture to figure out the scope of the problem and fix it.
- Recognize Employees’ Fears: Understand that your employees are mindful of saying or doing something that makes you lose confidence in them. Let them know how important their input -- even if it’s critical -- is to the future of your business.
- Reward Good Ideas: If a contribution leads to an improvement, celebrate it.
- Use Size to Your Advantage: Smaller companies allow for more one-on-one contact. While you should encourage feedback in staff meetings, don’t forget that some employees may be more comfortable sharing privately.
Take The Tip:
Click here to read more advice from Penttila at Entrepreneur.com.
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