Human resources are a vital asset to any company. Furthermore, happy employees can be your company’s greatest asset. Enthusiastic employees will communicate their excitement to your customers, investors and the general public. Engaged, loyal staff will perform at their highest levels and refer other talented workers to join them at your firm. Create a great work environment and you can turn high morale into high profits. Use these six tips to enhance your company culture today.

Show Appreciation

Nothing creates employee satisfaction and loyalty like appreciation can. When a worker does something spectacular, point it out to the rest of the company. Reward great work with bonuses, branded swag or extra time off. Appreciating your employees should be part of your company mission statement, it should be an integral part of your pay structure, and it should be evident in your daily best practices.

Streamline Processes

Every job has mundane, routine tasks that drain the energy out of the workday. Many times, these are necessary actions such as filling out time cards or logging equipment use. Make these chores as quick and easy as possible so your crews can focus on other aspects of the job.

Many fields have apps or software such as the time card calculator designed for the construction industry. A time tracking app on their smartphones allows workers to let you know what they are doing and when, with just a click or two. You get accurate, detailed information that can help you maintain the highest level of efficiency and reduce employee downtime. Yet it takes each worker just seconds a day.

Cultivate Relationships

Maintain a professional work environment while making personal connections. Creating cohesive, functional teams begins with the hiring process. Hire wisely. Recruit potential employees who have a good chance of fitting into the company culture. Job descriptions should state whether your business thrives on a fast-paced, competitive ethos or a laid-back casual vibe. Have recruits meet with the team during the interview.

If possible, conduct an audition of sorts, where recruits perform several job duties with their team. By the end of the interview process, you will have an excellent idea of how well each prospective worker will fit in. Once new employees are on board, make team-building part of training. Team building exercises may feel forced or silly at first, but they can also be the springboard to true camaraderie.

Communicate Goals

Communicate clearly from the start. Set realistic expectations during the training process, and give detailed feedback about how well each employee is meeting those expectations. Address issues quickly, before small annoyances morph into a hostile work environment. Accept feedback from employees as well. Remember, half of communicating is listening. Frontline employees may have valuable suggestions about how to better serve customers, so create an atmosphere where they are comfortable presenting those ideas to management.

Prioritize Balance

Work will never replace play, but a full life needs a balance of both. Show your employees that you prioritize their values, physical health, mental and emotional well-being. That does not mean that you must provide day care and a fitness facility at your workplace — though if you can, that would be fantastic.

It does mean that you allow flexible work arrangements where possible. Invest in technology that enables telecommuting, job sharing and virtual collaboration. Stock the break room with healthy snacks and sponsor a company softball team. If the nature of your business allows, set up family events and let workers bring pets to work on occasion.

Insist on Vacations

The health of your business is largely reliant on the health of your staff. Do you want workers who take fewer sick days, have less stress and are less likely to have heart issues? Then you want your workers to use their vacation time. A well-rested employee is a more creative, productive employee. Insisting on employee time off has other benefits for the company, too.

When key employees are away, you can more easily understand the roles they play in your firm. You may also spot leadership talent or notice gaps in your cross-training program. Be sure to set a good example by using your vacation time, too. You deserve it.

Lindsey Patterson is a freelance writer and entrepreneur based in the US who specialises in business technology, customer relationship management and lead management. She also writes about the latest social trends, specifically involving social media.