Why is loyalty an essential quality to have in your workforce? Without it, the team you rely on most will produce less, work inefficiently, compromise morale, and increase turnover. Simply put, staff who don’t feel compelled to work hard for you and commit to your company over the long term only comprise your mission. Use these strategies to start improving loyalty throughout the ranks:

• Lead By Example – It’s hard to feel loyal to someone you don’t respect. Make sure that yourself and every other manager operates with unwavering integrity and the highest standards of professionalism.
• Improve Your Culture – Employees are happy to commit to a company that reflects their goals, values, and ambitions. Create a culture that people want to be a part of, and they will be excited to stick around.
• Eliminate Frustration – Employees who lack the necessary equipment, training, or support feel like their employer is only throwing up roadblocks in their path. Always provide your workforce with all the resources they need to succeed.
• Minimize Office Conflicts – Conflicts in the workplace are inevitable. But when left to simmer, they can quickly begin to compromise loyalty in significant ways. As soon as you spot signs of conflict, take a proactive approach to see that it’s resolved.
• Stay Neutral – When you privilege, bias, or favor one employee or team over another, it will be hard for whoever ends up on the short end to remain loyal to you. In everything you do, maintain strict neutrality.
• Be Genuine – Your workforce is great at spotting faint praise, false modesty, suspicious promises, and management speak. And they will be a lot less inclined to follow your lead if they don’t feel like they can trust you. Always be genuine, even if it’s more difficult that way.
• Stop Micromanaging – Lots of entries on this list have to do with respect. When you micromanage your staff you tell them that you don’t respect them enough to accomplish things on their own. Support your team, then give them the space to work independently.
• Offer Appropriate Rewards – Offering tangible, valuable rewards for a job well done is a great way to build loyalty. Just make sure you don’t reward one person/group disproportionately, and that the size of the reward matches the accomplishment.

The good news is that building loyalty takes an investment of time and energy, not money. Making workforce loyalty a priority can have a huge impact on your bottom line over the long term and cost your company little, if anything. Learn more about optimizing your workforce in meaningful ways by contacting Morris Bixby.