By continually putting our associates first, it’s no surprise that ABC Supply has been awarded the prestigious Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award an astounding 16 times. Gallup awards businesses that create workplace environments where employees are given the tools, support and opportunities needed to succeed which in turn motivates the employees to thrive and fuel business success.

We understand what it takes to make a company a great workplace, and by reading our tips on creating a great working environment, you can make yours one, too.

1. Make Employees Feel Involved

Highly engaged employees are 87 percent less likely to leave their jobs than employees who aren’t engaged at work.* Engage your employees by involving them in planning and decision-making. Trying to decide which materials or finishes to recommend to a customer? Ask one of your crew members to help you choose. Unsure how to tackle a particularly challenging project? Ask your crew if they have any ideas. Empowering your employees to make suggestions and share their ideas will help them feel more engaged and may bring about opportunities to improve the work.

2. Provide Educational Opportunities for Career Development

Offer your crew members career development opportunities to help them achieve their career goals. Many professional associations and technical or trade schools offer classes and programs in skills from leadership to carpentry to safety that could be useful to members of your team. Consider footing at least part of the bill for employees to participate in relevant educational opportunities.

Additionally, consider jobsite career development. Partner new employees with senior crew members, so they can learn more advanced skills. This also allows them to get a peek into what their careers might look like if they stick around for the long term. Provide employees with frequent feedback, so they can continue to improve their skills on a day-to-day basis.

3. Share Your Company Values

Provide employees with a clear picture of your business’s mission and values. Make these values known to your employees. Having company values allow your employees to have a clear picture of what it means to work at your business and gives them an idea of how they should conduct themselves. To help you think about which values could work for your business, read about ABC Supply’s Core Values.

4. Communicate Often With Your Team

You can work hard at engaging employees, providing career development opportunities and embracing company values, but if you never communicate these efforts to your employees, they are unlikely to succeed. Communicate often with your crew members, sharing relevant project updates, anticipated challenges and company news. Effective communication is especially important with new employees, as they learn how to be effective members of your team and your company.

Remember that effective communication is not a one-way street. As important as it is for you to pass along information to your team, it’s as important to listen when your crew members come to you with a question, concern or idea.

Keep these tips in mind to make your business a great place to work. Check out our blog for more tips on how to keep people on your crew.

*https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-shocking-stats-about-employee-engagement