{"id":9374,"date":"2017-08-09T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/taxprocenter.proconnect.intuit.com\/?p=9374"},"modified":"2017-08-11T09:24:17","modified_gmt":"2017-08-11T14:24:17","slug":"4-tips-for-creating-a-productive-and-happy-work-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accountants.intuit.com\/taxprocenter\/practice-management\/4-tips-for-creating-a-productive-and-happy-work-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips for Creating a Productive and Happy Work Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Work-life balance. Community service. Culture. Your tax and accounting firm\u2019s employees aren\u2019t just looking for the best salary; they are also looking for the \u201cright fit.\u201d The core values, goals and feel of a firm are vital to engaging staff and creating happy employees who want to work hard and be productive.<\/p>\n

Here are four tips to create a productive and happy work environment at your firm.<\/p>\n

#1: Hire for success.<\/strong> Bring your staff on for more than technical ability; hire for an all-around fit<\/a>. When employees aren’t a good fit, they can send negative ripples throughout the firm that impact the morale and productivity of your team. It is critical to know your company culture and hire accordingly. For example, if you have created a competitive environment where employees are driven and compete against one another to get ahead, you shouldn\u2019t hire someone who is seeking a warm, family environment. Structure your interviews to get a clear understanding of what a candidate is looking for in a firm. It can be tempting to try and force a fit when you have a hiring need, but you are unlikely to build the workforce you want.<\/p>\n

#2: Define what that success looks like. <\/strong>Give your staff something to work toward. Employees need to have a clear understanding of the expectations and goals of the firm. Take the time to set individual goals with each employee, and make sure the goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. Then, go a step further and help them appreciate how those goals support the greater mission of the firm. Employee engagement is a balance of making people feel valued and helping them understand how they fit into the big picture.<\/p>\n

#3:<\/strong> Empower your employees.<\/strong> Unleash the power of your team. You\u2019ve hired them and given them goals to strive for, but they can\u2019t meet their goals if you don\u2019t give them the tools they need. Training, trust and respect are critical elements in job satisfaction and productivity:<\/p>\n