Business Education

Effective Ways to Show Your Employees You Actually Care

Happy employees are great employees. It’s that simple. When your team members feel good about their work and its environment, your company benefits immensely. It’s certainly no secret that any organization’s survival (and profits) rely almost solely on its employees. Furthermore, unhappy employees will do more to drag down your business than any other factor. So, it’s very important your team members feel appreciated.

Why Appreciative Employees are the Most Productive and Loyal

Okay, there’s no mystery to the reality that appreciative employees are indeed the most productive and loyal. When people are treated — not only with respect and adulation — they respond in positive ways. And, creating this culture does much to make the entire entity stronger and more cohesive.

Employees who feel appreciated feel valued. And when people feel valued, they’re more likely to go above and beyond for the organization. They’re quicker to hold themselves accountable for their part of a project. Most importantly, they’re happier in their roles, which means, they’re less likely to leave. When leaders disregard opportunities to connect with their team and show employees their appreciation, they lose a secret weapon in building a dedicated, long-term team.
—Inc.com

Everyone wants to be treated fairly and feel valued. When you routinely act in a way that imparts your thankfulness, your team will definitely pick up on it. The result is a better workplace and one that delivers on each and every project.

How to Show Your Employees You Care about Them

Other than competitive pay and good benefits, how do you show your employees you really appreciate them and what they do? Well, there are some subtle and overt ways to show employees you really care about them:

Give them extras. We’ll start with the most obvious. Reward them with little extras. An additional paid day off. Tickets to a show or game. A gift card. There are dozens of little things you can do to overtly show your appreciation. And do this when they least expect it, and where possible, reward them in front of their peers.
Get to know them. A subtle way to show employees you care is just to get to know them. Talk with them about things other than work. Check in on their sick mother, or pets or kids school projects or sports. Sure, it sounds all-too-obvious but you’d be surprised just how many bosses only talk about work.
Let them be the boss. Here’s an interesting idea — be a coach and not a “boss.” This approach allows employees to feel empowered. In other words, let them be their own boss. Employees who are given the reins are happier and more productive team members.
Show you have their back. The customer is always right, right? No. Reality is quite different. There are times when the customer is wrong and when an employee is in their crosshairs, let him or her know you have their back.

What other ways do have you shown appreciation and how do they work? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Network Event Do’s and Don’ts

May 16, 2017 No Comments

Some people have an innate ability to walk into a room full of strangers and start connecting and uncovering business contacts galore. They seem to glide through the room, smiling, freely introducing themselves, while holding conversation. These people know how to read a room and individuals naturally. Then, there are people who move through events quickly, collecting an astounding number of business cards while shaking hand after hand. The difference between the two personalities couldn’t be more stark. One is making new contacts, the other is doing little more than trying to bag new clients. It’s obvious which one will benefit and which one won’t. The purpose of networking events is to do just that: meet new people and have conversations. It’s how you go about it that makes all the difference. Connecting with people is an art form, and, is learned over time. Before there’s any real connection, though, you’ve got to be prepared to meet new people. Network Event Do’s and Don’ts There’s a huge difference between meeting new people and connecting with them. Meeting a group of new people is even more of a challenge than meeting a single person or a very small group. Attending a networking event is something that stirs excitement and anxiety. These events tend to be noisy, where it’s not easy to hold a conversation. What’s more, you’re expected to participate and interact with several people. We network because we don’t work and live in a silo. Due to human nature, we tend to trust doing business with people we know or who are referred to us. People often think of the need to network whenever their jobs are in jeopardy, or whenever they’re in search of new business. —Career Builder When you go to a networking event, you do so to open new doors. There won’t be time to establish a relationship and connect with others, but there will be plenty of opportunity to introduce yourself and hold brief, casual conversations. To accomplish this simple, yet challenging feat, you ought to know the do’s and don’ts of event networking. Network Event Do’s Go prepared. You ought to have a brief list of topics to discuss and/or experiences to share. It’s okay to go over these out loud and practice introducing yourself. Just don’t practice too much, or, it will sound rehearsed and artificial. Keep one hand free at all times. Keep your dominant hand free of snacks, drinks, and other objects. You’ll be able to freely shake hands without having an awkward moment to find a place to temporarily set something down. Know who to approach. Just because someone is standing alone doesn’t mean you ought to rush over to approach. Take a moment to read his or her face and body language. When you do make eye contact, confidently approach and introduce yourself. Look for opportunities to offer help. One of the most powerful and likable gestures is to ask questions and offer your assistance. Only offer to help when it’s realistic and be sure to follow-up. Don’t make the mistake of over-promising or over-extending. Network Event Don’ts Believe collecting business cards is a measure of success. Remember, the purpose of attending these events is to meet people — not just to collect business cards. If that’s all you accomplish, the whole exercise is for naught. Be on the lookout for someone else while speaking with another. If you do have the misfortune of getting into a boring conversation, find a gracious and courteous way to excuse yourself. What you should avoid is awkwardly scanning the room for someone else to speak with to break away. Try to impress others with jargon or facts. Using big words, insider jargon, or trying to impress with a barrage of facts is a turn off. It’s pretentious and tells others you lack self confidence. What’s more, it keeps you from having a genuine conversation. Speak over or interrupt others. This sounds obvious, but, it’s something that can be unintentional when you’re nervous. When you do approach someone else and introduce yourself, be courteous, ask polite questions, and listen. Yes, the purpose of attending Network Events is ultimately to acquire new business. However, do not go to a Network Event if that is your initial purpose. Your priority for attending a Network Event is to develop Relationships which you can foster over time into a business opportunity with that connection or with someone they introduce to you. Minimize your agenda, and spend time listening and asking the other person questions about themselves and their business. Show them genuine interest and watch how your relationship moves to trust even during the Network Event. Isn’t it more rewarding to leave a Network Event with 3 or 4 really good, meaningful connections where both of you developed a relationship and can follow up after the event to further explore opportunities together? When is the last time you attended a Network Event and made some meaningful connections that turned into real business? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

How to Recruit Gen Z Into the Trades

March 23, 2026 No Comments

Recruiting Generation Z requires a different mindset than recruiting previous generations. This generation grew up in a digital world with constant access to information and opportunity. If they don’t like a job, they can quickly move on to another option. That means trade companies must be more intentional about how they recruit and retain young workers. Focus on purpose Gen Z workers want to know that their work matters. When posting job openings, many companies make the mistake of focusing only on job responsibilities. But younger workers are looking for something bigger. Explain how your company contributes to the community. If your team builds schools, roads or homes, highlight that impact. When workers see the purpose behind the work, they become more engaged. Provide a clear career path One of the biggest misconceptions about the trades is that there is limited room for advancement. In reality, the trades offer many opportunities for growth. Workers can move into leadership roles such as foreman, superintendent or project manager. Many also go on to start their own businesses. Companies that clearly communicate these career paths will have an advantage in recruiting young talent. Offer training and mentorship Gen Z values learning opportunities. Structured training programs and mentorship initiatives help new workers develop skills while building confidence. Apprenticeships are especially powerful because they combine hands-on experience with professional development. Young workers who feel supported in their learning are far more likely to stay with a company long-term. Provide flexibility where possible While the trades often require structured schedules, companies can still demonstrate flexibility in other ways. Offering time off for family events, providing mental health days or supporting continuing education can make a meaningful difference. These benefits show employees that they are valued as individuals, not just workers. Recruiting is a leadership responsibility Recruiting young workers cannot be treated as an afterthought. Business owners and leaders must take an active role in developing the next generation of talent. Companies that invest in people today will be the ones leading the industry tomorrow.

The Most Important Lesson Wernher von Braun Taught Small Business Owners

February 6, 2026 No Comments

Solutions to common problems aren’t always self-evident. Sometimes, the answers lie in unusual places. For instance, one contradiction, known in artificial intelligence and robotics circles, states that machines can easily perform very complex calculations quickly, but cannot perform everyday functions that even small children can do effortlessly. This incongruity can actually help small business owners improve their operations and increase their profits. Read on to learn how.