12 Ways to Be a Good Boss and Support Your Employees

12 Ways to Be a Good Boss and Support Your Employees

Many things go into being a good boss. You need to be able to manage your team, give them direction, and set goals. But one of the most important aspects of being a good boss is supporting your employees.

This means understanding that they are individuals with their own needs and not just cogs in a machine. Supporting your employees is key to increasing morale, reducing turnover, and getting more productivity from them. If you want to keep your employees around longer, being a supportive boss is going to make your team want to stick around.

In this article, we will discuss how managers can support employees and why it’s so important. We’ll also offer some tips on how to be a good boss and show your staff that you care!

Why Does Being Supportive Matter?

When it comes to being a good boss, supporting your employees is key. But what do employees get from a supportive boss? And what are the benefits of that support?

Employees get a sense of validation from their boss. They need to know that their work is important and that they are contributing to the company in a meaningful way. A supportive boss helps to build that sense of self-worth and significance.

There are plenty of companies that don’t value their employees and this notion isn’t lost on good people. If their company has no respect for their staff, there won’t be any respect being returned. This leads to poor work, bad communication, and a workforce that isn’t bothered about the company mission – no matter how much they’re belittled.

Employees also need emotional support. They may be going through personal problems or struggles at home which are affecting their work. A supportive boss will listen to them and offer advice or help when needed. This can go a long way in reducing stress and improving productivity.

It’s unavoidable in life that personal problems will affect work, even if one of the company motto’s is to leave baggage at the door. A manager who can tell when something is affecting their employees, and offer ways to support them during this time is going to gain more affection from them.

Lastly, employees need someone to champion them. A supportive boss will do this for their employees, which in turn makes the team feel more valued. This could be encouraging them to go for a promotion or making sure they get the credit they deserve for good work.

This can manifest itself in different ways, but the overarching message is that a good boss should want to see their employees succeed.

How Can Managers Support Employees?

Now that we know why being supportive matters, let’s take a look at how managers can support their employees. Some managers will find this comes naturally while others may have to make a more conscious effort. That’s okay, everyone’s different but the theory behind being supportive doesn’t change much. Read on to find out more about caring for your employees.

Honest Communication

The cornerstone of any good relationship is communication. This rings true for the relationship between a boss and their employees. It’s important that managers are honest with their employees when it comes to how they’re doing, what the company goals are, and where things stand overall. If there are layoffs or policy changes, be upfront about it.

Managers should also be receptive to feedback from their staff. If an employee has a suggestion on how to improve something or how to do their job better, take the time to listen. Oftentimes, employees have great ideas that can help the company move forward.

If you want your team to feel supported, start by being an open and honest manager who is always willing to communicate with them.

Encourage Self-Growth

Employees need to feel like they’re growing as a person, and that their work is helping them to do so. As a manager, you can help this process by encouraging self-growth and professional development in your employees.

This relates back to the notion of how managers should champion their staff members and want them to succeed. If they feel like they’re growing as individuals thanks to work, it will motivate them even more!

Allowing time off for training courses or conferences is important too. These events allow people from all over the country/world to come together who share similar interests – which can be very inspiring for someone’s career path.

There are many ways managers can encourage growth in their employees, but one thing that makes all the difference is asking how things are going with personal projects outside of work hours (if any).

Take An Interest In Their Life

It’s not just about work – employees have lives outside of the office too! Managers should take an interest in their employees’ personal lives and ask how they’re doing. This could be anything from how their weekend was to how things are going with a new relationship.

This type of communication will make employees feel like you actually care about them as people, and that you’re not just interested in what they do at work. It also helps to build trust between boss and employee.

When managers show genuine concern for their staff members’ well-being, it makes the workplace a more pleasant environment overall. Chatting about things that aren’t work can help to boost the team’s mental health.

One thing to watch out for is that you don’t overstep. Do not press your employees to talk about things that make them uncomfortable. This can turn the atmosphere sour very quickly.

Offer Practical Assistance

If an employee is going through a difficult time, offer your help where possible. This can be anything from offering to cover for them at work if a family member is ill and they need time off or letting them take their lunch break early so that they can attend an important meeting with someone else in the company (for example).

The key here is how you offer your help. It’s no good saying something like “let me know how I can help” because that doesn’t actually put any action behind it – instead say “I’ll do X Y Z to make things easier while this situation improves.”

As a manager, your job truly is to support your staff and when someone is facing adversity, it’s a great way to take care of your employees. It’s not always a convenient time to take on extra work, but the person in question will be grateful for the help and it will develop your bond.

Be Flexible With Hours/Workplaces

Offering flexible working hours and location as standard will go a long way towards making your staff feel supported by their employers. Not only does this show how much you care about their wellbeing, but it also gives them the chance to have a better work-life balance.

Flexible working hours mean that an employee can take time off when they need it or even start later in the morning if they’re not feeling well. This means less stress on your employees and more productivity during normal business hours!

This type of support is one of those things that are expected from employers nowadays – so don’t get left behind! Being flexible with how people work will help your company grow as well because there’s always going to be someone who knows how to do something better than anyone else.

Give Regular Feedback

Regular feedback is so important for managers and employees alike; it helps everyone stay on track and know where they need to improve. This can be in the form of a meeting, or simply an email that says “I noticed this about your work – here’s how you can fix it” or “Just a quick email to say I really appreciated your hard work on the Jackson proposal!”

Giving feedback is one way to show how much you care about your employees’ development. It shows that you’re interested in their professional growth and want them to succeed. Plus, it’s always nice to receive positive reinforcement!

At times you have to give feedback that isn’t always positive. In these instances make sure any criticism is levied against the work and not the person. Also, you should consider phrasing negative feedback as positive feedforward – focusing on what to do in the future.

Make Sure They Feel Included

One way to make sure your employees feel supported is by including them in important decisions within the company. Showing that their opinion matters will make them feel appreciated and valued – both things which are essential for a happy workforce.

Including employees in decision-making also means that they have a better understanding of how the business operates and what it’s trying to achieve. This can be done through meetings where everyone is able to contribute their ideas, or by having regular one-on-one chats with employees about how things are going in their department (and how you could make them even better!).

Safe Environment to Work In

A safe working environment is another way to make employees feel supported by their managers. This can be achieved by ensuring that health and safety regulations are being followed at all times as well as making sure there isn’t any bullying in the workplace which could cause people to become stressed out or anxious about coming into work each day.

Bullying should always be reported, so don’t hesitate if you think someone may have been bullied – talk with HR! It’s also important for managers themselves not to bully other people while they’re on duty because how would it look if an employee saw this behavior?

Managers need to set a good example amongst their teams; after all, how can you expect others not to do something when they see their boss doing it? A leader needs to be the first person to do the right thing, every time.

A Great Compensation Package

A great compensation package is important because it shows how much you value your employees. When an employee feels valued, they are more likely to put forth their best effort on the job and be happy with where they work.

Your compensation package should include things like salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit-sharing, and benefits. You should also consider how often do raises occur (and how big are those increases)? What benefits come along with working at this company?

For example, health insurance coverage might not seem like a benefit until an emergency happens that requires medical care – but then we all know how expensive bills can get! Employees want someone who cares enough about them as people so if there’s one thing worth spending money on when building up your team of employees – it’s healthcare coverage!

Champion Mental Health

Managers need to be aware of how their employees are doing and how they can better support them. One way of showing this is by championing mental health in the workplace. Supporting your team’s mental health comes in all shapes and sizes and requires you to have some level of empathy.

Consider investing in a quiet area for people who need some time away from their desks or co-workers (this may also help with productivity). Or maybe having an open-door policy so that anyone can come in when they need some advice about how to handle something at work without feeling judged.

If you can offer flexible working hours where possible this will allow those who have children or other responsibilities outside of work more freedom during their day too! Asking how someone’s family member is doing, even if it seems like small talk, can make a big difference to people’s moods.

A great way to offer emotional support at work is to offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as part of their benefits. This is a service that team members can access to get help with a wide range of things including mental health issues, financial problems, and difficulties at work.

Team Building Activities

Team building activities are a great way to show how much you value your employees. They help people get to know each other better in a fun setting, which can lead to more cohesive teams when they’re back on the job!

It’s also important for managers themselves not only to engage with their team members but to participate as well. Showing up every day and doing what needs to be done is one thing, being present at meetings or events just shows how much you care about them too!

You could organize bonding sessions such as going out for drinks after work so everyone has time off from the office environment – this would provide an opportunity for people who might not normally interact socially together due to different jobs within the same organization (and therefore less likely to see these colleagues regularly).

Stick Up for Your Staff

When someone is going through a tough time, your support can make all the difference. This might mean sticking up for them when they’re not around or lending an ear to listen (without judgment).

Employees want somebody who will fight for them and stand up for what they believe in – this includes being vocal about things like company values and how everyone should abide by these ethics! Managers who are supportive of their staff are also more likely to get things done because people will feel valued.

At times a client may come down on one of your employees hard, or your boss will overstep their mark. You need to act appropriately but also stick up for your people in these instances. If you don’t, they’re sure to remember that in the future.