Updated: September 2, 2024
Ask ACE
Ask ACE: How do we encourage energy and ambition without causing burnout and turnover?
By Holly Smevog, HMS Career Coaching
Q: Our startup is moving to the next level, and we need to hire employees to work with the team. How do we encourage the energy and ambition we need to meet our goals without causing burnout and turnover?
ACE advises: Hiring your first employees is the time to set your workplace culture. Today’s employees want work that makes them happy. Instead of providing work-life balance, they want to be living life, whether at work and at home.
Here’s how you can foster new employees’ well-being.
1. Goal getters, not clock punchers. Ditch the outdated notion that long hours equal success. Shift your focus to setting clear, achievable goals that emphasize results, innovation and impact. Celebrate milestones and encourage employees to find efficient ways to reach their targets.
2. Cultivate connection. Free coffee and casual Fridays are no longer enough. Invest in team-building activities fostering genuine camaraderie, offer mentorship programs for professional growth, and ensure that leadership is accessible and supportive. It is possible to invest in connection even if you have remote workers or multiple locations.
3. Feedback fuels growth. Continuous feedback and development are more effective than anxiety-ridden annual reviews. Regular check-ins help employees feel seen, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. Offer opportunities for skill-building and career advancement to show your commitment to their long-term success.
While it makes some employees nervous, feedback in the form of “honest conversations” — the good and the bad — is the most effective approach to take.
Bonus tip: Surprise your team with unexpected perks that show you care. Think catered lunches, early dismissals or even a subscription to a wellness app. These small gestures can go a long way in building morale and loyalty.
Define what success looks like and build a company culture that supports the whole person, not just the worker. You will attract and retain top talent, boost productivity, and create a thriving workplace.
ACE member Holly Smevog owns Portland-based HMS Career Coaching. Holly’s team helps people advance in their careers and navigate career change. Holly is past president of the Maine Career Development Association. She can be reached at holly@hmscareercoaching.com.
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