Written by: Tara James
Recent changes in the workplace, such as the widespread adoption of remote setups, have led to unexpected growth in the small business sector.
With more and more individuals broadening their professional lives, there is a surge in business formation. For example, in 2021 alone just under 5 million new businesses were launched. This shows how many new startups and entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to thrive in this atmosphere of innovation, which means that your small business must stay competitive to grow.
To do this, you must find and retain the best talent around with sustainable business practices — and one of the ways your organization can achieve sustainability is through agility. Agility is a business’s ability to survive dynamic changes by adjusting to changing times. To achieve this, you can improve work conditions, address skills gaps, and co-create your organizational culture with your employees.
Here’s how you can do these things well to make staying in your business worth it for those you employ.
Provide opportunities to learn and grow
One of the most important aspects of a workplace that employees value today is the opportunities offered for continuous growth. Small businesses have fewer employees, so it’ll be easier for you to personally tailor strategies that help them bridge the skills gaps they want to address. By providing resources that allow them to upskill in these areas continuously, you can show that you’re genuinely invested in your workers’ development. Educational opportunities like online courses, workshops, and seminars are just some avenues you can provide to help them stay updated and competitive in your industry. Moreover, they can use these skills in the workplace to ensure your business’s long-term growth. This will benefit them as well: they’ll feel that their input and presence are valued at your company, making them more eager to stay with you.
Offer flexibility and favorable employee benefits
With how much workplace arrangements have shifted in the past few years, employees have a solid understanding of their workplace preferences. Knowing the top benefits employees desire can help you implement favorable conditions that entice them to stay. Paid time off, flexible hours and remote work options, and fitness and lifestyle incentives are among the benefits that workers look for the most. Offering these perks allows small businesses to create working conditions that rival the biggest companies. When employees enjoy these benefits, they can focus on their personal and mental well-being, therefore associating employment with positivity and favor. That said, be sure to survey your employees and see how you can meet their preferences through your benefits package.
Welcome feedback
Simply having good intentions won’t lead to a perfectly managed workplace. Especially with small businesses, you will have to do a lot of tweaking to figure out what works. Great leaders know when to implement more initiatives and when to focus on existing ones so that their employees work better. But with conditions constantly changing in the world around us, it’s vital to welcome feedback from your employees. Give them the platform to speak about what does and doesn’t work in your company. You can even invite more honesty by making their questions and suggestions anonymous. Take their feedback seriously and articulate how you plan to address their concerns. Doing so will help them feel like their input is appreciated and that they have the power to make effective change that improves the working conditions at your company.
Adopting sustainable business practices leads to a more positive and empowering environment for your employees. By offering continuous growth, favorable work conditions, and input on management, you can ensure that employees stay on to help your small business grow.
About the author:
Tara James is dedicated to helping readers succeed in their professional endeavors. She loves to explore topics in business, finance, and economics. When she isn’t writing, you can find her enjoying a cup of coffee while walking her dogs, Tootsie and Bam.