Given the ever-changing employment landscape and the demands from employees to enjoy work-life balance. Employees want to feel connected to work, yet want to have their personal time and space away from work as well. How can you strike a good balance between both? There is no one best way but good to work out something that works best for the company culture and environment.
Value the Opinions and Feedback
It is natural that employees want their voices heard by the management or the bosses. Some opinions or ideas given may be a little overboard or unrealistic in the present moment but never shove off any employee’s feedback right away. Always give them the perception that you will consider it, but never expect the turnaround of the opinions or ideas to be taken in immediately or even execute them!
Option to Flexible Work Arrangements (FWA)
FWA is one of the ways to allow employees to feel that they have the autonomy to decide and plan their schedule well. This can help them in fulfilling their personal commitments, for example, bringing kids to school early in the morning, and cutting through or if possible, avoid the traffic jams to get to work. They will be glad to commit the hours required but at a different time from others than to rush their mornings away. Other ways are also to offer options to work from home, hot-desking.
Don’t create tension unknowingly
Allow employees to be themselves at work and encouraged them to behave like their usual self. Some employers or bosses have a certain level of expectations that employees must behave in a certain manner which makes them feel uneasy at work. However, do you know that giving employees autonomy will make them feel that you trust them in their work? They will eventually portray a positive attitude towards work and will be more than willing to put it that extra effort unknowingly. Never limit your employees’ capabilities and creativities at work!
Don’t Create Fear in Failure
This is the key thing that people back-off after they faced with setbacks, people fear failure. It would be nice and consoling if employees are given an environment to learn and make mistakes. But of course, mistakes should be moderate. Employees can make mistakes and must quickly manage it together and not leave it hanging. Sense of fear will decrease as employees are given ownership, power to make decisions. Always remember that any mistakes made should not be accompanied with harsh criticism or demerits, everyone is learning on the go!