Small business owners should encourage contributions from all employees. Nothing will make an employee feel more part of a business than feeling like they can contribute. This should extend to them being able to make suggestions. This writer has seen many instances of auto repair shop owners handling this very well (and unfortunately some not so well). Some small business owners discourage input from employees to the extent that every idea has to be theirs. This limits what the business can accomplish. Auto shop owners that handle this in a productive way encourage the employee to take ownership. If the employee complains they encourage them to think of a solution. If the employee suggests a solution the owner asks them how it will be paid for and possibly if they’ve considered any other ramifications. The bottom line is that discouraging contribution can result in a negative culture while encouraging it (in the right way) will result in a positive culture and growth.
On what high-performing companies should be striving to create: A great place for great people to do great work … Marilyn Carlson
In this straight forward statement Marilyn Carlson states that company performance is predicated on employee contributions. And this in turn translates to high performance.
Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organization. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity, and meaning in their job … Ken Blanchard
Ken Blanchard (author of ‘The One Minute Manager’) points out that sometimes people don’t realize how their work contributes to the overall success of the organization. Describing this to the employee can be a powerful motivator and provide a significant boost to employee morale.
Culture is about performance, and making people feel good about how they contribute to the whole … Tracy Streckenbach
The culture of a business is viewed as the behaviors and beliefs that are accepted and practiced by its employees. Tracy Streckenbach states that a positive culture is based on employee contribution.
The way your employees feel is the way your customers will feel. And if your employees don’t feel valued, neither will your customers … Sybil F. Stershic
In this statement Sybil Stershic draws the direct relationship between employee feelings and customer feelings. If an employee doesn’t feel that their contributions are appreciated their attitudes and actions will communicate this to customers.
