While you may fret over the bottom line and how to grow your business in these difficult economic times, your internal customers — employees — are dealing with their own anxieties. And chief among them is paying their bills. In addition to earning a paycheck, all they really want is to have a life — and feel good about living it. The more you can do to make your staff feel happier and appreciated, the more loyal they will be. And you’ll cultivate a reputation as a company where people want to work.

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Obviously, handing out bonuses as performance incentives, offering a good benefits package, and providing opportunities for career advancement are critical to any employee retention effort. However, like a good coach, you also need to build your workers’ self-esteem at the individual and team levels. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Consider flexible schedules. It’s never a good idea to divide an employee’s loyalties between work and family. Allow parents to be there for their kids’ basketball games or piano recitals. Workaholism has its own costs, including burnout and resentment. Praise employees who show their devotion, but encourage them to have a balanced life. Lead by example.

2. Make a surprise announcement. Call an impromptu staff meeting. Wear a stern face as everyone files into the room. Then, crack a smile and let them know how much you value their contributions to the company. If your budget allows, take the staff out to lunch or have one catered in. Make a toast to the team.

3. Roll up your sleeves and pitch in. Once a month, join the employees who have the least desirable drudge jobs in your company to show that no task is beneath you. It will bolster morale throughout the ranks.

4. Play quarters. Every morning before work, put three quarters in your right pocket. Every time you pay an employee a compliment, move a quarter to your left pocket. Do this every day and you’ll have employees who feel valued. Teach your managers how to play too.

5. Actively solicit your employees’ opinions, and act on their good ideas. When you implement an employee’s idea, reward the person who had the vision to do things better. Spotlight him or her at a staff meeting. You’re creating a friendly competition that will help innovation thrive.

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