What makes a company great, and a business thrive? A great product? A unique selling proposition? An extensive marketing campaign?

Imagine you are at a party. You, the business owner, are the host, and your customers, the guests. In order to make them happy, you have to provide them with the total experience from invitations to décor, from appetizers to dessert; providing them with a good overall experience will keep them coming back for more.

What else do you need to make sure your guests are happy – their plates filled, and their glasses full?

Your wait staff, aka your employees. You cannot satisfy your customers without satisfying your employees, first and foremost. They are the primary champions of your service.

Most managers overlook the importance of employee satisfaction and need to be coached on just how vital it is for a company’s success. An employee’s loyalty doesn’t begin when his signature is on a contract, nor does it automatically come with his first paycheck. Employee loyalty is earned. Great benefits, high salaries, a famous company name, etc. are not enough to keep employees from leaving. If you respect your people and treat them well, they will stay.

Employees leave jobs because of their bosses, and not because of the job itself. Being a good boss means having a relationship with your employees that goes beyond business.

How do you increase employee engagement and satisfaction?

1. Empathize. Show your employees that you understand and care about their well-being. This includes respecting their personal time, and ensuring they have a balanced work and home life.
2. Avoid micromanaging. Employees are happier when they feel you trust their judgments and initiatives.
3. Recognize their achievements and acknowledge their efforts. Everyone loves to feel appreciated. Sincere recognition keeps employees engaged and productive.
4. Open communication. Employees are more satisfied when they feel they are heard. Listening to their grievances and suggestions, and even acting on them, help them feel valued and indispensable.
5. Provide training and support. Investing in workshops and seminars geared toward your employees’ professional growth shows that you are as committed to their career and advancement as they are. As Richard Branson said, “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”

Employee satisfaction, and thereby, their loyalty, is a hidden prize that not many employers value. Yet, it is the foundation of an exceptional business. Before you can have a great relationship with your customers outside your company, you must first foster an even better one with your employees, within it.