1. Have a vision for your company. Where do you see your company in a year? Five years? Ten years? Do your employees know and understand what this means for them?
2. Thank you can never be said enough. It’s the simplest of things and very easy to do. How often do you say thank you to the people who work with you? Have you put a thank you in their paychecks?
3. How do you define employee benefits? Are they a benefit to you or a burden? Consider the last time you asked your employees for their input on company benefits. Do they believe they are benefits or do they view them as something you are obligated to provide.
4. American business is about service. Have your employees ever been trained to respond to the demands of service-oriented customers? This issue will only continue to grow in importance. Employees who are trained to meet the demands of the service economy are happier and more profitable.
5. When was the last time you took a time out for yourself? Even the boss needs a break once in a while? If you have not had some down time in the last six months, time to consider a day or two off to re-charge. Leadership starts with you.