Building Strong Bonds With Your Team
How to get your people invested in your long-term success.
Do you ever have those nights where you get together with a friend without any firm plans? Then, you end up trying something fun and new, everything unfolds perfectly, and you share this special time full of memories that you’ll laugh at for decades.
This is what happened with our spring kickoff series. Although we planned much of our content in advance, we didn’t realize the gold mine we dug up until one blog rolled into the other.
So, for one final recap, we started by talking about how to attract top part-time talent. Then, we discussed how to fire someone with kindness. And last week, we demystified company culture and looked into how to create one that properly reflects your values. And now, we’re bringing it to the ultimate crescendo!
The long-term retention of quality people.
Turnover is never a good thing, but it’s especially sensitive in a setting like the childcare industry that requires maximum trust. To maintain a team that you can count on, you must continually invest in their growth and happiness.
Sure, generous compensation and a competitive benefits package are important, but today’s top talent demands more from their employers. It really is the little things that matter the most.
Here are non-compensational motivators to help you build strong bonds with your team (and an added bonus is that most of them are also tax deductible)!
Acknowledge birthdays. It doesn’t have to be a big production. Simply pick up a cake to share and pass around a card everyone can sign. The same goes for other major life events like weddings, new babies, and funerals—send flowers with a card from the team.
Invite them to your continuing education. We spoke about offering to cover the cost of your staff upgrading their skills. But you could also have them join you at your next coaching webinar. This gives them individualized attention, a taste of mentorship, plus a sneak peek into the management side of the industry.
Start a book club. A lot of people enjoy reading. Each month, someone else could select the book or magazine to feature and you buy the copies (or find them online for free) for the “club members.” Need a lower-commitment alternative? Have a playlist of the month where everyone contributes a few songs, mix it up, and share it with everyone.
Attend trade shows as a team. Get your out-of-office and “CLOSED'' for the day sign ready. In addition to building camaraderie, this one provides multiple advantages. Think networking, brand visibility, competitor intel collection, and learning “what’s new” in your industry in a condensed, fun, all-aboard manner.
Workplace improvements. Say goodbye to styrofoam cups with tasteless breakroom coffee! And no more gray office cubicles with those harsh fluorescent lights that buzz! We aren’t recommending that you install an indoor waterslide or anything, but small changes can make a huge impact. Think moisturizing soap and hand cream in the bathrooms, anti-fatigue mats, ergonomic workstations and chairs, walls painted in a soothing but more lively color, and some plants.
Attend or host retreats. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that we are big fans of retreats and their team-building powers. Organizing one yourself doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Rent a nearby cottage or Airbnb for a weekend and let people decide if they want to come just for the BBQ lunch or stay overnight. Trust us, these memory-makers are worth the effort.
Give back to the community, together. We touched on this one for building (and solidifying!) your company culture. Champion a charitable spirit by encouraging your staff to go and volunteer for a non-profit every six months or year. It’s a triple win because it feels good for your employees, does good for your community, and looks good for your brand. However, you could also do it as a team for the ultimate bonding experience. Think soup kitchen, park clean-up, or the food bank.
Implement a compliment wall. Whether it comes internally or externally, try pinning it up like a positive feedback vision board. You can add your own recognition to the wall and even have a rotating monthly "spotlight" where each team member shares something about themselves. Make it lighter than “employee of the month” by adding curiosity and a personal touch with baby pictures and favorite quotes.
Have a “bring your (BLANK) to work” day. This could be a pet, a family member, or a friend. It could even be a hobby, recipe, brain teaser, puzzle, or book that people can showcase and swap. (Speaking of book exchanges, you could uplevel this idea by creating a small lending library where the staff can share books.)
Employees leave when they don’t feel valued while happy ones contribute tenfold to fostering a joyful and productive company culture. By using one or more of these ideas, you’ll build strong bonds with and within your team to create a happy and healthy work environment.
Do you enjoy learning new strategies like these? How about being able to connect with other agency owners by discussing important topics and sharing ideas? This exact kind of knowledge-share is why Megan and her team created Arise.
Arise is a private community for nanny agency owners to lean on each other for support and inspiration in a safe, judgment-free environment. We also have all sorts of fun events coming up, so join us here.
"Megan’s guidance and wisdom helped our agency beyond measure. She was a wealth of knowledge, offering wonderful insight to every question I had, helping me fine tune and quicken our processes, and giving me direction moving forward, setting goals for the future. I would highly recommend Megan’s counsel no matter what season of business you are in!" —Rachel Adkins
