It's easy for front-line employees to feel disengaged from the rest of your business. Follow these three tips to ensure you're engaging your front-line teams.
Nearly one in five (17.6%) of Australia's working population are employed in either the retail or food and accommodation services industries, according to Parliament of Australia statistics. Many businesses operating in this area are vast, incorporating stores, head offices, warehouses and logistics services. The size of retail and hospitality operations can lead to front-line employees feeling disconnected from the rest of the organisation, especially those in the head office. What can retail and hospitality businesses do to better engage their front-line employees?
1) Establish a company-wide vision
Nothing brings your whole organisation together quite like a shared company vision. Creating a mission that everyone believes in and focusses on - no matter if they are in a warehouse, waiting tables or in your head office - will help to create cohesion across your whole business. You can then inspire people to get behind this vision, helping to increase productivity and engagement as a result.
Consider a retail brand that's committed to sustainability, either through the materials it uses or the supply chain practices it follows. Store employees will be much more willing to sell a product they truly believe in, and will start to see themselves as having a significant role to play in an operation that is having a positive impact on the world. They are therefore likely to feel far more engaged than employees that don't have a vision.
Nothing brings your whole organisation together quite like a shared company vision.
2) Communicate with your entire workforce
Once you've created a company-wide vision, you need to ensure you're communicating it effectively. One reason front-line employees may feel isolated is because often they don't see the same type of communications as those in the head office. To counter this, try and make a concerted effort to communicate with your entire workforce about new initiatives or impending changes, and make sure you are always linking this back to the company mission you've established. This will help team members feel like they are in the loop and that they aren't just being told what to do right at the last minute.
3) Show your front-line employees just how much you appreciate them
As a retail or hospitality business, your front-line employees are the face of your organisation. They are the ones who ultimately help you to create revenue by selling your product or executing the service you are offering. It's therefore vital that you show them the gratitude they deserve.
Consider creating an Employee Rewards and Recognition Program for your front-line staff. This will enable you to reward employees when they exhibit positive behaviours or live up to the values and vision that you've set for your entire organisation. When star players are rewarded, make sure you tell not just to the employee in question but to the whole company. That way, not only do you increase the number of times you are communicating with your entire workforce, you are also exhibiting to your whole organisation the good work that your front-line team members are carrying out. This type of social recognition across the whole company will help front-line employees feel appreciated.
Just remember that the rewards your front-line employees want may differ significantly from those sought after in your head office. It's best to offer a choice of reward so that your program can cater to everyone's individual preferences.
Reward your front-line teams with Power2Motivate
At Power2Motivate, we live and breathe employee recognition. Our global rewards gallery gives your team members a choice of thousands of rewards, and our comprehensive reporting functions track points and redemption rates, offering insight into ROI as well as what really motivates your team.
For more information, reach out to the team today or request a demo.