Are you really taking advantage of one of the major assets in your company? Employees have the capability to provide significant input to formulating solutions to some of the most difficult operational problems facing many businesses. Unfortunately, there are few companies that actually have a systematic approach to utilize this potential untapped resource.

Your employees’ ideas and daily passion toward their work can be a big difference in whether your business succeeds in the long term. There are key elements that have been found to improve work environment and relationships.

Provide them the tools. Make sure that your employees have everything they need to be successful at their jobs. Ask them if there maybe anything that would make them more productive. Don’t be surprised that their answers identify management policies and procedures that were appropriate when originally introduced but are now counter-productive. Be ready to take action as each employee will be watching how committed you are to making meaningful changes.

Communicate your expectations. It is critical to clearly communicate what is expected of their job, what values drive company decisions, and how success is defined. Each employee must understand the importance of their role, where they fit in the bigger picture, and how they can help make the company more successful on a daily basis.

Get to know people. It is important to take the time to take a genuine interest in your employees. This does not mean becoming their friend but it does mean asking them about their personal ambitions and employment goals.

Share business information. Keep the employees informed as much as possible about the company performance and happenings in the marketplace. Explain what challenges the company may be facing from competitors or changes in customer demands. Share the good and the bad. Employees will appreciate the openness and faith you are showing in them.

Commit to training and self-improvement. Create a culture that encourages and rewards continuous learning and skill development. People will be happier and more engaged when they have the opportunity to grow personally. They will also be of more value to the company as they become more proficient in their assignments and cross-train to replace others. When trained in proper problem-solving techniques and conflict resolution, employees become better team members and are better able to interact with customers.

Involve in planning. As much as possible, it is generally advisable to include employees as early as possible in the planning process. Quite often the facts on today’s work floor are different than top management remembers. Employees may see issues with a new set of eyes and have ideas that may allow them to work smarter. Involving employees early builds commitment and can make implementing proposed changes easier.

Build effective teams. Use well-designed, validated assessment tools to be sure that teams are composed of the right combination of skills and leadership. Many teams fail because the leader or the members were selected without regard to their skill sets needed for the project.

Recognize participation. Not every individual idea or team project will be a success but they all need to be recognized for making the effort. Personally thank each employee for participating in the improvement process. Celebrate small team achievements along the way.

Reward success. Develop a visible method to fairly reward those that significantly contribute to the success of the company. When possible, promoting employees that have shown individual initiative and active involvement in the improvement process can provide motivation to everyone. Rewards do not always have to be monetary but they should be recognized as being proportional to the benefit derived by the company from the employees’ efforts.

Involving employees in the workings of the company must be systematic and continuous if it is to become a positive element of company culture. The benefits of having a staff that reports to work with enthusiasm and energy will bring remarkable results and take advantage of all your potential untapped resources.

A. Michael Weaver founded Weaver Research & Consulting Group http://www.weavergroup.org in 1998 with the mission to conduct thorough research and develop sustainable solutions to client’s problems. WRCG specializes in finding ways to change your organization potential into improved bottom line performance.