“Take care of employees and they will take care of your business. It’s as simple as that.”
This quote by British business magnate Richard Branson is one of many he has shared on effective leadership and the crucial role employees play in a company’s success.
International Workers Day was observed on 1 May, again shining the spotlight on workers’ rights and the hard work they put in to keep companies afloat.
Yet one can’t help but wonder how many of these workers, most of whom ironically worked yesterday, got so much as a thank you from their employers!
Not because their efforts and dedication aren’t appreciated or noticed, but rather because we as a nation have become so consumed with the notion that “the show must go on.” Sure, in dire economic times when companies face immense pressures to serve their bottom line, praise and recognition sometimes fall on the back burner. Yet it sets the tone for how employees show up for work, feed their motivation and passion, and what lies at the heart of a company’s work culture. Often we underestimate the power of the word “thank you”, but most of the time it really is that simple. It is said identity is shaped by our relationship with others. Being positively recognised for who we are and what we bring to the table shapes our feelings of self-worth, self-respect and self-esteem, which lie at the core of how we go about our business and treat others. In an environment where employees spend the largest part of their day at work, often feeding into family time and, despite fighting their own personal battles, continue to take care of your business. Let’s normalise saying “thank you”, and not only on a day where we are reminded to.
