5 Things Great Employees Want
Have you ever stopped to think about what great employees want? I’m not thinking of things like pay or vacation days, something a little deeper and perhaps more meaningful.
Almost every employee would tell you that they would like to earn more money. Many would like a little extra vacation time, and some would probably like a little more flexibility with their schedule.
Sure they want to be paid and to have paid time off, but a deeper connection with the organization (and personal achievement) is just as important, and in some cases perhaps more important.
Great Employees Want
Here are 5 things that truly great employees want:
- Job Security. They care about the organization and because they are working for the future of the organization they want to know that they organization feels the same about them. Certainly any job today has its share of risks for longevity but your best employees are even more committed (and likely productive) when they feel secure.
- Opportunities for Growth. Sure there will always be some people who don’t aspire to move up the ladder, and let’s face it organizations need both, but many of your stars are working hard waiting for that opportunity. The trick for most organizations is to be able to plan and prepare for organizational growth. They also should have employee development systems that align with that growth. That way both the goals of the organization and your best employees can be achieved.
- Respect. All employees want respect, regardless of generation or position every employee expects to be respected. In most cases respect has strong connections with trust and like trust sometimes respect must be earned. The best employees will earn both trust and respect but at the same time the organization has a responsibility to reciprocate.
- Continuous Learning. If your organization isn’t learning, it has stopped growing. The best employees know that education is part of becoming better. Organizations with opportunities for tuition reimbursement, participation and inclusion in conferences and other outside events, bringing in contracted outside talent for training and development, as well as in-house training programs, are highly valued by employees who want a career, not just a paycheck.
- A Voice. Along with respect the best employees want to be both seen and heard. They want visibility and to know that they have a voice. Inclusion in strategy development and organizational change gives them a voice. No, they don’t all need to be at the board of directors meeting. They should be appropriately working within their teams at appropriate organizational levels to provide information and feedback will create a culture desired by the best.
How is your organization or employer doing? Do they measure up? Is the organization providing you with the things that you really want?
The greatest employees will give back much more in value when compared with the cost of what they receive.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
