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Summer has arrived (allegedly!), bringing with it high levels of employee holidays, school events and the additional challenges of the Olympics.

If, like many businesses, you have downsized with absences and holidays, this summer is likely to put an even greater strain on the people that drive your business forward – your employees.

So how can you keep your employees motivated, the business working and making a profit?

Maximise the psychological contract between you and each of your employees.
It has been defined as ‘…the perceptions of the two parties, employee and employer, of what their mutual obligations are towards each other.’

This is the real contract that exists in the mind of every employee. It affects their sense of well being, attitude, performance and captures what the employee really believes they will get in return for what they give.

If the psychological contract is damaged or broken, it is likely to have a negative impact on the employee’s commitment and performance.

Take these 4 steps:

1) Plan – take a step back now, and plan how you will cover the holiday period

2) Communicate – involve your employees in the planning process; communicate the plan to them; tell them where their role fits into the bigger picture;

3) Recognise individuality – think about how you can maximise each individual’s strengths

4) Praise – take time out to thank employees when they go the extra mile – genuine praise counts for more than any pay rise in the long term; the boss who gets ice creams and cold drinks in on a particularly hot day is always remembered

These steps are important in normal daily activities, but in challenging times, they are absolutely critical to the success of your business.

For more advice or to chat through other ways to help improve the psychological contract, just call me on 07810 563 676 or email me.

No harm in chatting and improving business.

Please feel free to pass this onto anyone you feel would benefit from it.

Regards
Jane
PS If you missed the Olympic email I sent out before, let me know and I will forward it to you.