Workers work for a salary, but their sense of purpose comes from feeling valued rather than the size of their pay cheque.
“As leaders, we often focus on tangible benefits — salaries, bonuses, health plans and perks — to attract and retain staff,” says Salwa Albertyn, group human resources (HR) executive with the Empact Group.
“While these are important, they are not the defining factors that inspire real engagement, loyalty or long-term success. The real key? Making employees feel valued.”
Albertyn advises:
- Show employees respect by acknowledging their hard work and treating them as crucial contributors to the organisation’s success;
- Provide clear communication so workers are not confused about company goals and expectations;
- A structured employee recognition programme ensures that people do not feel invisible and their achievements are celebrated;
- Workers who have the freedom to make decisions tend to work harder and enjoy their work more; micromanagement has the opposite effect; and
- The organisation's processes are important but they should not overshadow the value of each employee's contribution to the organisation's big-picture purpose
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