A Happier Home Furnishings Industry Starts Here

Tired of seeing your employees slump around the office and sulk on the showroom floor? Feel like you might explode the next time you hear an employee sigh? Here are 5 easy tips to increase employee satisfaction in the home furnishings industry. 

1. Mind your manners.
The first step in re-evaluating your office’s “happy strategy” is self-evaluation.

• Are you acting professionally at work?

• Do you lose your temper and let emotion run the show?

• Would you act like that in front of [insert important person’s name]?

Manners are 100% FREE. Get control of your outbursts, speak rationally, exercise emotional intelligence and say “please” and “thank you.”

You are the captain of your ship and your behavior has a direct impact on the happiness of your crew. So, if you’re guilty of bad behavior, it’s time to mind your manners.

2. Give people the tools they need to do their jobs well. Then, get out of their way!
Happy employees feel empowered to do their best – and this includes having the correct tools to help them with their tasks. Research (or ask your employees to research) the latest technology and make that happen for them. For example, reduce the time employees spend updating your online product descriptions with a service like ENHANCE.

3. Put your employees in a position to have a positive impact on others.
Whether you implement a volunteer program, or you arm employees with fast food gift cards to give to the homeless, help them feel good about their contributions to the community. All that “feel good” comes back to work with them and creates a happy environment.  

4. Offer non-financial rewards.
If the budget is tight and you can’t give financial incentives, get creative! Time off, sports/theatre tickets, gift cards and flexible work schedules make employees feel valued and positive about work.

5. Be the change you wish to see in your world.
As the leader of your organization, you set the tone for the rest of your team. If you walk into the showroom angry and annoyed every morning, your staff will follow suit. Alternately, if you come in with a positive attitude and smile on your face, your employees will pick up on and mirror your energy for a happier environment.

What are some of the other ways you inject happiness into the home furnishings industry? Leave a comment below to share your morale improvement suggestions with other leaders.