A great workplace is defined by its company culture, not its size. It is where everyone feels respected, is treated fairly, trusts their leaders, loves working with their colleagues and is proud of the work they do. This is one of the many things I have learned from the recent webinar hosted by the Philippine Retailers Association, where Antoniette Mendoza-Talosig, the Managing Partner of Great Place to Work® Philippines and Lead Consultant of Great Place to Work® Singapore, talked about “How to Elevate Your Employer Brand to Attract and Retain Talents”
In this webinar, I was also enlightened that company leaders play a crucial role in nurturing these foundations of a great workplace. After all, how they conduct themselves as leaders impacts the level of trust their employees have in them and in the organization they work for.
But since the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations to establish work-from-home arrangements, managing a team virtually effectively has become a challenge for most leaders. Hence in this blog, I will share with you the best practices of Great Place to Work® Certified Companies on how they have been effectively leading remotely. These key take-aways might help you bridge the gap between you and your employees as you connect virtually.
Consider these three simple ways you can do to effectively lead even from a distance
Inspire Your People
It seems like a tall order to become an inspiring leader. But you can show this simply by being a leader who listens.
You can start by having online one-on-one sessions and weekly huddles with your employees. Use these avenues to listen to their opinions and consult them on decisions that will affect them directly.
Connect your employees’ work to a bigger purpose. This is especially important among individuals who want to find not just another job but meaning in their work.
You can be inspiring too by being a leader who cares. Synchrony Global Services, for example, kept their workforce intact despite the pandemic’s impact on the global economy. When employees know that the organization has their best interests in mind, inspiring them to return the favor through hard work will be much easier.
“[Synchrony Global Services] strived and allowed every single one of its employees, myself included, to retain their jobs and enabled them to keep providing for their families.”
Show That You Care
In these difficult times, your employees are looking for a leader who cares about them as a person and not just as an employee.
More than just being a leader who listens, it is also essential that you provide them with the resources they need to succeed at work and give them the respect they deserve in and out of the workplace.
In the case of DHL Express at the start of the pandemic, their leaders personally called their employees to see how they were doing. This simple act of making a phone call shows that it does not take a lot to show you care.
“Our leaders express their love and concern by making sure that we are equipped physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Celebrate with Your Employees
No matter how challenging things get, it is always vital for your team to celebrate both small and big wins. This can boost everyone’s morale, which in turn impacts their teamwork and improves job satisfaction.
Small things go a long way when it comes to celebrating your wins. You can, for example, acknowledge their accomplishments during your team huddles and one-on-one meetings. Thanking your employees for their contributions will also remind them that both their individual and collective efforts matter.
At Canva Philippines, the company not only provided employees with tools and resources to stay productive, but also used these tools to conduct regular engagement activities. By striking the balance between fun and work, Canva’s leaders managed to keep everyone’s morale and job satisfaction high even when doing remote work.
“[Canva] gave us laptops, blankets and working tools. We didn't run out of engagement activities, so it was really fun. I didn't feel that I wasn't with them at all.”
And the good news is that you do not have to be a big brand to show great leadership in work-from-home arrangements.
Dow Chemical Philippines, a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, has about 50 employees in the country. Despite that, 98% of their employees say that their leaders embody the best characteristics of the company.
This goes to show that taking care of your employees in both great and small ways is more important than the size of your organization.
“[Dow Chemical Philippines] is a great company to work for. Working with people who are supportive and understanding fosters personal connections and growth. With this kind of favorable working environment and benevolent people, our common goal is achievable.”
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Effective Leadership is a Win-win for Everyone
Whichever leadership strategy you choose, everything boils down to putting your people first. When you do this, it will come naturally for your people to prioritize the welfare of your organization. This is the kind of dynamic any organization wants—a workplace where there is mutual respect, high morale and where mutual trust thrives.
Having employees with a positive workplace experience will be a huge plus if your organization has invested heavily in creating a high-trust workplace culture. Their feedback will be a validation of the quality of your employer branding.
Your employees’ positive experience will also have a spillover effect on how you attract and retain top talent.
If candidates recognize you as a workplace with great leadership, they are more likely to choose you over your competitors. Your current employees will stay longer with your organization too, helping you avoid common issues with high employee turnover rates.
To learn more on how to attract and retain your top talents watch the full “How to Elevate Your Employer Brand to Attract and Retain Talents” webinar hosted by Philippine Retailers Association.
Let Us Help Elevate Your Employer Brand
Want your organization to stand out from the rest of the competition? Let our team Great Place to Work® Philippines help you create an employer brand that attracts and retains top talent and build a high-trust workplace culture, and get a chance to join our list of Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies.
Karissa Huyong-Manankil
Karissa is priding herself with a customer-centric work ethic, she goes above and beyond to deliver what needs to be done the best way she can. Her role at Great Place to Work® Philippines is to journey with you towards getting your organization Great Place to Work-Certified™. Her heart is anchored in God’s faithfulness. Eager to learn and experience all that she can, traveling, enjoying time with family and exchanging stories with people from all walks of life are just some of the things she enjoys doing the most. When met, you’ll know that each encounter with her spells out two things: a brighter perspective and more zest for life.
