4 Ways to Foster Unity Among Your Employees

When you run a business, your employees are one of your most valuable assets. Even if you have top-notch employees, they won’t work efficiently if they can’t work well as a team. Here, we’ll look at four ways to foster unity among your business’s employees.

Praise

Never underestimate the role of praise — both at the individual level and at the group level — in inspiring unity. Even a simple but sincere “thank you” can help an employee feel valued. When your employees know you appreciate their efforts, they will be willing to extend themselves to help the team and your company.

Being Transparent About Wages

You’ve probably seen it in workplaces of your own. Employees talk about wages. And if members of your team find out they’re making less than other members, it can cause discontent, lack of productivity, and even infighting. Based on your business standards, you may have good reason (like time with the company, prior experience, etc.) for paying some employees more than others. But rather than keeping this information a secret, be transparent when it comes to wages. By being open about wages and your pay scale structure, you will help employees understand any pay scale discrepancies, and they will be more likely to trust you and each other.

Community Service

Sometimes, the best ways to encourage team unity happen outside of the workplace. One of these ways is through community service. A community service project can be a good team-building exercise that fulfills a valuable need. By spending a day volunteering with a charity, your team will help the surrounding community while knowing they’re making a difference. Plus, this is an activity that helps foster team bonding. And, since it gives your employees a break from the office, they’ll likely appreciate you more for it.

Make the Work Environment Safe for Feedback

In a truly successful, unified team, feedback doesn’t just come from the top down. A unified team is one that feels comfortable discussing potential issues and offering feedback. And while many business owners and team leaders focus on handing down constructive criticism, it’s best to create an environment where dissent and discussion are welcome. If an employee has a suggestion or feedback, listen openly and don’t become defensive.

When everyone in your workplace can work together to solve problems, your workplace will begin to feel more unified. In conclusion, assembling a team isn’t enough. Intentionally working with your team to create trust and unity will take your team farther when it comes to productivity and workplace satisfaction. Start taking these steps today, and watch your team’s morale improve.