Gaining an Employee's Loyalty

There's no foolproof method for gaining someone's loyalty, but many of the same things that hold true in a personal relationship apply in an employment relationship, as well. The keys to a positive relationship are trust and respect. When employees feel respected, they will generally respect you and the business in return.

How to get respect and trust. Following are some hints for gaining an employee's respect and trust:

• Be ready to listen to the employee's questions and concerns about the job.
• Treat your employees with respect, not as inferior people.
• Be polite to your employees.
• Recognize and reward your employees for a job well done.
• Ask for your employees' input in making decisions that affect their work.
• Gradually build trust in your employees by giving them additional responsibility or extra latitude in making decisions.
• Treat all your employees fairly and impartially.
• Be firm, but not tyrannical, when making decisions and disciplining employees.
• Apologize or admit to employees when you were wrong.
• Give employees credit where due.
• Express genuine concern for employees' problems.
• Keep your employees informed about work-related matters.

What you should avoid. Here are some tips on what not to do:

• Don't belittle employees (alone or in front of other employees or customers).
• Don't lie to employees.
• Don't build false hopes for raises or advancement.
• Don't pass off your employees' work or ideas as your own.
• Don't swear at employees.
• Don't fail to lead your employees.
• Don't treat your employees like children.
• Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by aggressive employees.
• Don't show disregard for employees' personal needs.
• Don't talk about employees behind their backs to other employees.

Once employees feel that you will treat them fairly and sense that you care about them as people, you will be more likely to inspire in them a concern for the well-being of the business and the quality of their work. But keep it professional. Make sure that you don't cross any lines or make the employer-employee relationship too personal.