- Singapore is a premier international innovation center, with numerous businesses based in the country.
- Effective employee relationship management requires employers to encourage employee feedback, celebrate milestones, focus on employee support, and promote work-life balance.
- Companies must adopt a “people-first” attitude that focuses on caring for employees’ needs to work processes.
- Engaged and motivated employees with professional development opportunities are more productive and efficient.
Singapore is a premier international innovation center with Fortune 500 R&D labs, venture capital funds, and accelerators that have launched successful unicorns such as Lazada, Sea, Grab, and Razer.
Unsurprisingly, it has been frequently cited among the most inventive cities worldwide. Its mission involves partnering up with companies to craft answers for global challenges.
And Singaporean business owners and entrepreneurs are constantly looking for new ways to manage their employees better. But despite all of the talk surrounding effective employee management, some strategies often go overlooked.
This blog post will share five underutilized employee relationship management strategies that can go a long way toward creating a happy, productive, and loyal workforce.
Encourage Feedback
You’re missing out on valuable insights if you’re not actively soliciting employee feedback. Employees often have great ideas for improving business processes or making other changes that could benefit the company. Encourage feedback by holding regular meetings, and let employees know you’re open to their ideas.
Thank Employees
Furthermore, thank employees for their feedback and show that you’re considering it. This will help build trust among your team and create an atmosphere of collaboration. Additionally, periodically ask employees how they think the company is doing overall so you can get a sense of their morale and satisfaction in the workplace. With this valuable insight, you can make changes to meet their needs and increase productivity.
People First
Like the “people-first” attitude of SMRT Chairman Seah Moon Ming, companies should focus on taking care of their employees. Taking care of the employees will result in improved overall performance. The chairman’s candid and friendly attitude makes him endearing to the company’s employees. His welcoming nature made it effortless for everyone to accept him as their leader—and get behind his pursuit of organizational change through leadership development, improved work processes, and a new corporate culture.
Celebrate Milestones
Everyone likes to feel appreciated and celebrated, and that’s especially true in the workplace. Take the time to celebrate your employees’ milestones, both professional and personal. Acknowledging and recognition can work wonders for employee morale, whether it’s a birthday, work anniversary, or achieving an important goal or milestone.
Celebrate the Moments
Celebrate these moments with certificates, small gifts, or even a special celebratory meal. An employee’s commitment to their job deserves to be recognized, and celebrating milestones is a great way to do that.
Focus on Employee Support
One of the most underrated aspects of employee relationship management is support. Make sure your employees feel supported and valued, both in their work and their personal lives. Offering flexible working hours or providing assistance with caring for family members can go a long way toward creating a stronger bond between employer and employee.
Set Aside Time for 1-on-1s
Finally, setting aside time each month or quarter for one-on-one meetings with your employees is essential. These meetings allow you to discuss any issues they’re having at work and their goals and aspirations. They can also help build strong relationships between you and your employees and increase their loyalty to the company.
Promote Work-Life Balance
The demands of modern work can often seem overwhelming, which can lead to burnout and disengagement. Encourage work-life balance by promoting healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise, taking breaks, and disconnecting from work after hours. This will help your employees maintain their health and happiness, benefiting your business.
Vacation Time
Encourage employees to take advantage of vacation time and flexible scheduling options, such as working from home or having flexible hours. Ensure you are also open to discussing difficult personal issues that may interfere with an employee’s ability to work effectively.
Invest in Professional Development
Finally, investing in your employees’ professional development is vital to building a strong relationship. Offer training, courses, or other opportunities for your employees to learn and grow professionally. This not only helps your employees develop their skill set, but it also shows that you care about their success and growth.
Engaged and Motivated
When employees feel they have the potential to advance within a company, they’ll be more engaged and motivated to do their best work. Plus, having well-trained and knowledgeable employees can benefit your business by increasing efficiency and productivity. Investing in your employees’ professional development is worth making for your team and your business.
Singaporean companies can follow the example of SMRT, which refreshes its employees’ knowledge every year. Its institute set aside 17,000 slots for them every year. The “people” measures also give the right values to its employees.
Effective employee relationship management is key to creating a happy, productive, and loyal workforce. By focusing on these five underrated strategies, business owners and entrepreneurs can strengthen the bond between employer and employee, resulting in a better workplace environment and higher employee engagement. So take the time to listen to feedback, celebrate milestones, promote work-life balance, and invest in professional development – your employees will thank you for it.
