Life is a mystery

Your people are your biggest asset.

This is something I say all the time – to my clients, to potential clients, on social media, and to anyone else who will listen.

You should look after your team, as they are the lifeblood of your organisation.

Creating a positive and productive work environment is important for a number of reasons, and often the personal life of your team members is just important as their professional one.

HOLIDAY

This month, I have had a whirlwind month (and, at the time of writing, it’s not over yet).  And part of this is down to having a great team to support me and our clients.

My wife and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary; we went to London to see Madonna in concert; we spent a week away with our dog Basil (which we told him was to celebrate his birthday); and we are celebrating my birthday too.

Madonna was fabulous. The concert reminded me why I call her the first love of my life.  I have seen her in concert numerous times, and she’s been fabulous every time.

As Basil’s birthday was the same day as the concert, we delayed his celebration until the day after, where we travelled to Cornwall to spend the week.  We spent the week on the beach, eating at some fabulous places, and shopping at some of my favourite stores.

Even though I’m still working in between all these events, October is clearly a busy month.

RAY OF LIGHT

Ultimately, this means that I rely on my team even more than usual.  It’s not an issue because I trust my team, and I can easily delegate tasks to them because I know they will handle them with aplomb.  In return, I know that my team appreciate the flexibility they have in their employment, whether it be for childcare, holidays, or anything else.  

Despite meticulous planning and careful diary management, sometimes life can be a mystery* and throw up some curveballs.  Being an understanding employer is imperative for me, and peace of mind for my staff.  

EXPRESS YOURSELF

As a HR consultant, I work with clients to make sure that they are creating a positive workplace culture; and employee well-being should be at the forefront of this.  To repeat, your people are your biggest asset, and they should be looked after – and they should feel comfortable to talk to you whenever they can.

Team members who feel happy and satisfied are often more productive.  When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be engaged in their work.  This is also positive for employee retention.  High turnover rates can be costly and disruptive to a business, so retaining skilled and experienced employees is essential.  

In terms of public perception, happy employees are the biggest brand advocates and create a positive reputation for your company.  Similarly, employees who feel supported are more likely to provide excellent customer service, which leads to satisfied customers, which ultimately contributes to your company's success.

PAPA DON’T PREACH

Of course, doing the right thing should be a given.  Sometimes, using your judgement to positively impact your employee’s life is morally the right thing to do.

Looking after employees is not just a moral obligation, but it also makes good business sense.  A happy and motivated workforce is one of the most valuable assets a company can have.

If you are an employer and would like to discuss your company culture, policies, procedures, or anything else HR related in your business, please get in touch today to arrange an informal chat about me and my team can support you.

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WHERE'S THE PARTY

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P.S. Madonna was that good, that I have booked a ticket to see her again. And yes, there is no plural there - my wife and I are going to London together and, seeing as she will be at her works Christmas party, I will make the most of my free evening by going to see the first love of my life again.

*the title of this blog is a line from ‘Like A Prayer’– a Madonna song (and all the sub-headings above are also Madonna songs).

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