Regardless of whether you’re actively looking for new employees or not, it’s always good to know there are people looking in from the outside and liking what they see.

Being an attractive business to work for means you will attract good quality employees, and it’s important to maintain that by providing a motivating and appealing workplace for those employees once they come on board.

It’s all about what you can provide for your employees, and that goes beyond what you can pay them – money talks, but only so much.

Higher wages might be the hook that first draws applicants in, but it will be other factors that make them seriously consider the position, and perform at a higher level if they do get the job.

These important other factors include:

Freedom. Whenever possible, give your employees the freedom to work they way they work best. Avoid micro-managing them, so they can enjoy autonomy and space.

Goals and targets. Set goals and create targets for employees to meet. Targets create a sense of purpose and add a little meaning to even the most repetitive tasks. Be clear about Key Performance Indicators and have job descriptions built around those KPIs so they know their job has purpose.

Mission. We all like to feel a part of something bigger. Striving to be worthy of words like “best” or “largest” or “fastest” or “highest quality” provides a sense of purpose. Let employees know what you want to achieve, for your business, for customers, and even your community. And if you can, let them create a few missions of their own.

Clear expectations. Few things are more stressful than not knowing what your boss expects from one minute to the next. A lack of uniformity creates confusion and resentment and a lot of wasted time. When standards change make sure you communicate those changes first. When you can’t, explain why this particular situation is different, and why you made the decision you made.

Input. Everyone wants to offer suggestions and ideas. Make it easy for employees to offer suggestions. When an idea doesn’t have merit, take the time to explain why. You can’t implement every idea, but you can always make employees feel valued.

Personal connection. A kind word, a short discussion about family, a brief check-in to see if they need anything… those individual moments are much more important than meetings or formal evaluations.

Fairness and consistency. Most people can deal with a boss who is demanding and quick to criticise… as long as he or she treats every employee the same. While you should treat each employee differently, you must treat each employee fairly, and communicate with them properly. The more employees understand why a decision was made the less likely they are to assume favouritism or unfair treatment.

Growth opportunities. Every job should have the potential to lead to something more, either within or outside your company. Take the time to develop employees for jobs they someday hope to fill—even if those positions are outside your company.

Source: inc.com