As the co-founder of Community Integrated Services (CIS), I have the fortunate opportunity to spend more time doing the things I love (and delegating when needed.) So, I choose to spend time ensuring our newest employees understand what we do, how to do it, teaching strategies, and helping them grow.
Because of a decades-long shortage of direct support professionals (DSPs), it has always been necessary to hire and thoroughly train people without prior experience. So our motto became “If we can’t recruit fully qualified and experienced staff, we will create our own workforce.” This meant a lot of training was required, and we were happy to take on the challenge.
Building a workforce from the bottom up is serious and time-consuming yet rewarding beyond measure. So, to keep people engaged and excited about an unfamiliar role, or a new job, we work hard to make our training sessions fun and day-to-day interactions filled with positivity. This doesn’t mean it’s all comedy night at work (although there is a little of that), but we try to keep it enjoyable and engaging. We want people to look forward to the next day, not dread it. And here’s how we do that.
Improve the Office Milieu by Encouraging Friendships
I get it, Not everyone is a fan of the word “milieu.” But it’s the perfect word for all the things that make up the social environment. At CIS, we want our people to like working here and feel comfortable. We want them to have friends at work.
This isn’t just an afterthought or a “nice to have.” It’s essential. Studies show that people with friends at work are less likely to be unhappy and quit. Did you read that? People with friends at work are less likely to be unhappy and quit! In a time when there is a steady stream of articles about quiet quitting and mass resignations, the milieu is something to pay attention to.
We at CIS make planned social interactions a core part of the CIS program. For example, maybe we’ll recognize all employees within the same month for their birthdays. This provides chances for people to learn more about the other employees. We hold individual site team staff meetings where attendees can be trained and eat (food is always a plus.) These get-togethers create space for introductions among co-workers, help facilitate social integration, and generally work to make all employees feel more comfortable and confident.
Lean into Employee Motivation
Some new hires come to us raring to go. Others need help getting motivated and excited about their new role. In both cases, employee motivation is key to staff satisfaction and retention. And motivation starts in the first training sessions.
After all, research has demonstrated a positive correlation between skillful training and motivated employees. When done right, training sessions go beyond instruction; they also inspire employees. Of course, employees must know what they need to do, but they must also understand why they need to do it.
Providing a deeper understanding of tasks and consequences is one way we motivate staff members. We assume they want to know everything about the company. So, we share our history, lore, and mission statement. We also spend time discussing CIS values and talking about the ways employees could express these values.
Our agency also sincerely places a high value on an employee’s job. For example, our DSPs affect both co-workers and clients. They play a significant role in our clients’ quality of life. We make sure they know just how much their job matters to CIS and our clients. We have a digital program that allows employees to recognize their peers. Each quarter the individual(s) are put into a random drawing for a monetary gift, and at least one of the peer compliments for the winner is posted in the company newsletter.
Don’t Shy Away from Discussions About Professional Advancement
We can’t promise that everyone will get promoted, but we can promise that exceptional performance is one of the best ways to ensure professional advancement. We start talking about career opportunities in early training sessions. We create job roadmaps for new employees, even if they are entry-level hourly workers. Demonstrating our belief in their abilities is a great way to foster confidence and commitment. In training, I point out the names of managers and directors that started with CIS as DSPs and worked their way into the roles they hold now.
And this isn’t just my opinion. A Glassdoor study reported that employees without a clear path for advancement often leave to pursue the next stage of their careers. At CIS, we want our employees to look to us for promotions, not seek them elsewhere. In the same vein, if an internally promoted manager is finding that they miss working directly with the clients, we listen. Instead of forcing them to quit to join a peer agency (with that passion and knowledge to work as a DSP again,) we support their return to the role they miss here at CIS. It is a win-win any way we look at it.
Celebrate Victories!
Social work can be a challenging career, so I’m not afraid to congratulate often. Sometimes we celebrate with a high five, a round of applause, or an ice cream sundae. It’s vital for us to take time to celebrate achievements, however small. We all work so hard. Taking moments to express our gratitude for everyone’s contributions is key to ensuring employees feel valued and want to stay (despite the hard work).
New hires can be timid and unsure in training, so it’s even more important to provide recognition for successes in the early days. I call on people in my training to ensure everyone is participating. When someone answers a question correctly, I cheer, and the other trainees usually start cheering with me. Another victory for joy!
Smile. It’s Contagious.
Did you know that when you smile, you tell your brain to produce more stress-reducing endorphins? And it tamps down stress-producing hormones like adrenaline. Smiling also reduces blood pressure.
Of course, mask wear challenges our ability to see smiles now. In any medical-type situation, everyone is still wearing masks. However, even behind a mask, I can tell you your smile works. It shows in your eyes and lifts the energy of those around you.
Like it or not, your facial expression is contagious. When I walk through the office, I want employees to mirror my enthusiasm and joy, so I smile (even with a mask on!) A lot. It makes me feel better and lifts the mood of the office, which makes all the employees happier. And when they’re happy and comfortable, they learn and work better, and with that combination, they are more likely to continue working for us
Win-win.
Eat Ice Cream
If you’ve read any of my past articles, you might wonder, “What is it with this girl and ice cream?”
I love it, it’s true! Through the years, I’ve found that bringing ice cream to work as a treat, a celebration, or a reward helps others and me feel happier somehow. Maybe it’s because it reminds us of our inner child and the joy we felt when eating it while growing up, Or maybe it is because it’s so darn delicious. Who knows?
But the occasional ice cream break is one of my favorite ways to get people to stop, smile, relax, and talk to the people around them. It’s the secret ingredient to helping people love where they are.
Stay Serious, But Don’t Forget Fun
There is plenty of serious material to cover in the social work realm, as I am sure there is in any business. By adding fun, humor, smiles, compassion, and personal attention to employee and trainee interactions, CIS can teach serious lessons without demotivating employees. We’re a good team here at CIS, and it all starts with a few smiles.