“Open, honest communication is the best foundation for any relationship, but remember that at the end of the day it’s not what you say or what you do, but how you make people feel that matters the most.” – Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos
Zappos is a company that has been known for being non-traditional and for writing the engagement manifesto to end all employee engagement manifestos. At the heart of it all, sits this very simple truth – people remember how you made them feel.
Human kindness is the first lesson we learn on the playground – it’s how you make friends. As we grow, we continue to look for environments where that lesson is still in practice. After all, the EVP is really just a description of the employee experience. At the end of the experience, the residual effect will be determined by how employees feel. Here are 5 ways that organizations can be kind:
- Welcome new hires into your organization.
Nothing says “You don’t really matter to us” like a poorly organized orientation. Begin to create a brand ambassador from the first day – or even before! Take the time to make sure your on-boarding program will give your new hires a sense of the team they have joined. Ensure they have all the tools they need to be successful, sooner. Introduce them to the people they will be working with, and assign them a buddy, to help them settle in. Your new employees are excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to be a part of the organization! Harness all that enthusiasm and let them know that you are just as excited to have them, as they are to be there!
- Be transparent and share the information employees need to do well.
The quality of the work someone produces is directly related to the quality of the tools and the information they are given to work with. Wherever possible, it’s important to be straightforward with your employees. When everyone has the same information, they can unite around the issues and focus on the important things. It makes all the difference in the world to how someone approaches a project, when everyone pools their knowledge and understands what the goal is.
- Provide employees with the opportunity to learn and grow, including honest feedback if they are not doing well.
Organizations that invest in their talent routinely see a higher level of employee engagement and productivity. Providing opportunities for your employees to expand their skill set by learning new things benefits both the employees and the organization. The development opportunities are most motivating when there is coaching available and employees understand what they are doing well, and where they need to improve.
It’s not kind to avoid telling someone that they are not doing well. It’s not always an easy conversation – but it’s those managers that took the time to provide the direct, constructive feedback we needed to improve, that we look back on as mentors. The majority of us are driven to do the best job we can, and to grow, we all need constructive, compassionate feedback.
- Treat departing employees well.
When an employee provides their notice, it is likely the end result of a long, difficult decision-making process. It’s important not to write them off as “checked out”, and discount the great work they have done for the company up to this point.
If the decision has been made by the company, it is critical that the departing employee is treated with respect. Ensure that the circumstances around the meeting are never fodder for the office gossip before or afterwards. It is important to speak positively of their contributions and thank them for their efforts.
Former employees are still ambassadors for your brand in the market. They will have relationships and influence with your current employees, they are a source of potential referrals and in some cases, revenue. Sending your former employees out into the world with a positive impression will only benefit your brand.
- Give back to your community.
Today’s workers are not solely driven by personal ambition. More and more employees want to be working for an organization that works to make the world we live in a better place. Community building is great team building. It brings people together and helps to create those “raving fans” outside of just your employee base. Look at it as an investment in your future employees, customers, and partners.
Our parents have done their best to raise us to “play nice” with one another and treat each other with compassion – we should absolutely apply that kindness in the way we approach the workplace.