It’s been said before but it truly can never be said enough: employees are the cornerstone to a company’s success.

No matter the strength of your vision, without dedicated workers to help bring your vision to fruition, your company will never even exist. However, when you do get your small business up and running, and you’re lucky enough to find a group of engaged, dedicated and hard-working employees, it’s imperative that they know how important they are.

Employees may very well be the most important factor in your company’s success but, if they are unaware of their value, they could become the reason for your company’s downfall.

Employees provide much needed insight, creative feedback and support for your company’s mission.

It’s undeniable that they are an indispensable part of your team. When employees are made aware of their worth, they can become more motivated, productive and trusting of your business.

Being honest with employees about the value they add to your business can ultimately lead to more confident employees and increased revenues. But how do you even begin to show employees that they are highly valued?

Here are three practical ways:

Tip 1: Have your employees’ backs

Hiring employees is never a simple task, especially when it comes to small businesses. However, when you do have a team of hard working employees, it’s important that you can trust them.

You should never hire someone whose decision-making skills are subpar. One of the best ways to show your employees that you value their contributions to your company is to trust them to make those contributions. When an employee is working with a particularly difficult client who reaches out to you, always have your employee’s back.

Of course, if your employee is in the wrong, that’s a different situation. However, more often than not, the problem is a mere misunderstanding or a difficult customer. When your employee is handling a situation or has a proposed solution, trust them and have their back. Your employee will remember this support. It takes a lot for a boss to stick their neck out for an employee- if you ask us, they don’t do it often enough.

By supporting your employees and trusting their gut instincts, you’re not only showing that you value their opinion, but you’re also laying a foundation for an open, honest and trusting relationship between yourself and your employee.

Tip 2: Make time for your employees

There’s no bigger insult than slaving away at your job, working long hours and sacrificing personal time, only to have a question for your boss who is constantly unavailable. How can you expect your employees to know that you value them if you can’t even make time for a simple meeting?

If your goal is to show your employees that they’re valued and important, it’s your responsibility to make time to meet with your employees, even if it’s just for a simple conversation.

When a busy boss can set aside time for face-to-face meetings, employees feel important. Making time for your employees will require some reshuffling of your own schedule and, while it may initially feel like an inconvenience, the pros will far outweigh the cons. While your employees will feel empowered, valued and important after an honest and positive conversation with their boss, you will see benefits also. From having this conversation with your employees, you will have a renewed faith in your dedicated employees.

Making time to see how your employees are doing, check in about their workload, and hear about their goals is one of the most practical ways to show them that you care.

Tip 3: Offer perks at the office

Small businesses may not have the resources to offer employees vacation packages to exotic locations, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use perks to show them that you care.

Some practical ways to show employees that they’re valued are to office rewards at the office, such as free lunch on Fridays, or a fully-stocked kitchen with coffee, tea and snacks. If you have a higher budget, you can offer wellness benefits, such as reimbursement for fitness-related purchases up to a few hundred dollars annually, or weekly chair massages to leave employees refreshed.

By making their workplace environment a comfortable and enjoyable space, employees will feel highly valued. If your employees are dog-lovers, you can allow pets at the office for a day or bring in a group of therapy dogs. Another option for those with a higher budget is to offer tuition assistance. There are so many options when it comes to perks that one can offer at the office. No matter your budget, you can show employees that they are highly valued.

When it comes to showing your employees that they are highly valued, there are several ways to go about it. From making time to check in with them to having a fully stocked kitchen and other office perks, there is always something you can do to let your employees know you care. These are just three of several practical tips to show your employees how important they are to your company.

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At the end of the day, what matters isn’t so much how you show your employees that they’re valued, but that you do. Happy employees are more comfortable and trusting of their employers, which leads to increased productivity, which in turn leads to more revenue for your company.

Get to know your employees - find out their strengths, their hobbies and their career goals and use all of this information to find unique ways to show them that they’re valued.

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