As a small business owner, you’re no doubt wearing multiple hats – from payroll to bookkeeping, marketing and social media, and of course, managing your staff (HR) – and sometimes it’s this last task that can be left wanting, writes Elise Balsillie, Head of Thryv Australia.

If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers. Employee happiness and satisfaction is equally vital to customer satisfaction in any business. Whether your business small or a startup, if your staff are motivated, it’s much easier to get the best out of them.

Your biggest business asset is your people

Taking care of the people who work for you is as important as taking care of your customers. They’re usually the ones at the front of the shop or on the phones, making sure your customers are getting the best experience possible. This is why having an effective people strategy in place is good for the health of your small business.

Below are three ways you can wear the HR hat in your company.

1. Wear the recruitment hat

Setting your expectations at the interview stage is as important as training your new staff in business procedures. Being open about expectations from the job advertisement means there’s less worry about candidate burnout.

Remember, the goal is finding someone who thrives in your work environment.

In addition, be honest about salary and work challenges. But, just as much, offer a point of difference to working for you. Explain why working at your business will help your employee achieve job satisfaction and feel like a part of the team. Focus on the strengths of your team and environment.

2. Wear the wellbeing hat

Giving employees reassurance that you have their health and wellbeing in mind is crucially important.

This has a flow-back effect on customer experience, which directly affects your bottom line. Your business benefits when you take care of your employees’ wellbeing. Plus, you’ll create positive word-of-mouth in the process.

3. Wear the culture hat

Organisational Culture (OC) isn’t a buzzword. It’s directly tied to how your employees feel about you and your workplace. A toxic OC can have a huge impact on a small business.

Forcing people to work overtime, providing limited resources or ‘calling out’ people who take sick leave can lead to toxic work environments.

Positive OC starts from the top – and that’s you! You’re an example to your employees on what they can and cannot do in your workplace.

Overall, successful people management can lead to efficiencies in the workplace and a positive customer experience, which has a direct effect on improving business growth.

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