You don’t have to send chocolate or flowers to your employees to let them know you appreciate them. In fact, that would be weird. Instead, focus on what’s really important to them. If you don’t know, ask. Be friendly with them and understand that while they respect you, they also want you to be approachable. Show them your fun side this Valentine’s Day and show them some love with these three easy tips:
Be active on social media—If you block access to social media, unblock it. Show your employees that you trust them to be productive on company time. Chances are, they’ll be even more productive. If you’re on social media, friend or follow all your employees. Not to “stalk” them, but to be friendly. Comment on their statuses and photos. Show them you care.
Allow personal cell phones—In this day and age, it’s impossible to not allow personal cell phones. Some companies give their employees a cell phone specifically for work. Especially for parents and dependents, it’s important to be reachable during the day in case of emergencies. If you don’t allow personal cell phones already, consider the pros.
Curate company playlists—Take a look around your office. Are most of your employees wearing headphones? They’re listening to online radio to tune out distractions and be productive. Capitalize on this productivity by asking one employee every week to create a music playlist on Spotify or Pandora and to share it with the company. It doesn’t necessarily have to be “family friendly.” All those Disney songs will become monotonous. Communicate clearly that it is not required to listen to it, just for fun.
