Beyond Pizza and Hot Stone Massage: The Power of Getting People Fundamentals Right
People Management's true power lies in mastering basics like fair pay and respect, outshining perks like benefits and parties for lasting impact.
I think it's easy to get lost in the idea of providing benefits and incentives and not put enough focus on getting the basics right. While everyone loves a free lunch and some vouchers for a hot stone massage, these things are just the cherry on what should be an already tasty cake. The real substance lies in the fundamentals of people management.
Now, don't get me wrong. Perks and parties have their place. They can be brilliant for morale, getting folks engaged and talking and creating a buzz around the office. But, they're often just a temporary boost, a bit like eating a chocolate bar for a quick sugar hit, instead of prioritising eating fruit more regularly.
The true heart of people management lies in the core elements: fair pay, respect, clear communication, and opportunities for growth and development. Get these right, and you've laid a solid foundation for a happy, productive workforce.
Fair pay - it's an easy decision, isn't it? People need to feel that they're being paid what they're worth. If you're scrimping on salaries or lowballing on offers, but splashing out on pizzas and free lunches, it sends a confusing message. Employees might enjoy the free pizza, but they'll savour fair remuneration even more. They'll notice this disjointed and obviously unfair approach too. They'll talk about this, but it might not be to you.
Respect. This one's huge, actually. People want to feel respected and valued at work. So you need to focus on creating an environment where people can speak up, be heard, and, most importantly, feel safe to do so. No amount of team lunches can make up for a culture that lacks respect and inclusivity. Fostering a respectful workplace provides gains and opportunities on so many levels - people will tell you what they feel about the way things are going (instead of gossiping about it with their peers). You'll get honest, actionable feedback on how to improve the lives of everyone who works for you this way. Respect also breeds trust and if you have a culture of trust in your organisation, you've pretty much one people management.
Part of having respect and building trust is communication. Transparent, honest communication builds trust and respect. Being good at communication in your organisation is about keeping everyone in the loop on how the company is doing, the decisions it's making, being clear about company goals, and providing regular, constructive feedback on both employee AND company performance (eat your own dog food!). When communication breaks down, even the best benefits package won't keep your team engaged. They'll eat the pizza, but they won't tell you that they really don't like pineapple on it!
Lastly, growth and development opportunities are another basic provision for staff that a lot of people overlook, or only pay lip service to. People want to progress, to learn new skills and to feel they're moving forward in their careers and becoming more valuable. Providing these opportunities is a sure-fire way to boost engagement and loyalty while increasing the skills and value of your workforce, retain the talent that you've spent a lot of time cultivating and build an organisation you're proud to work for.
But don't stop doing the pizza parties and other benefits. They add a bit of sparkle, show appreciation in a tangible way, and can certainly help in attracting new talent. But they're not the bedrock of a solid people strategy. That honour goes to the basics – fair pay, respect, communication, and growth opportunities.
While the bells and whistles of fancy benefits and fun times are all well and good, they're just the icing on the cake. The real substance of effective People Management lies in getting the basics right. It's these fundamentals that truly make a difference to your team's daily work life and overall job satisfaction. So, let's not lose sight of what really matters. After all, you can't build a sturdy house on a shaky foundation, no matter how fancy the decor.