Commercial construction companies, in particular, tend to have a revolving door of employees. It’s a brutal industry where often it seems there is either more work than you can do, or not enough to let you sleep at night. Whether it is 98 degrees in the shade or just 15 degrees inside the shell you are building, your employees have to deal with it — it’s just part of the job. In the summer they often leave home when it's still dark before they've seen their kids, and arrive back when it’s dark long after time for dinner. In the winter paychecks are often very thin. That’s the gig and what’s expected when you work general contracting. Like I said, it's brutal. Whether they endure these hardships for you, or for someone else, depends on more than just the hourly wage you pay.

When Tom and I first got married, I had a terrible time convincing him that a single rose on an unexpected day meant far more than a dozen roses on my birthday, our anniversary, or Valentine’s Day. Frankly, I expect some romantic gesture on those occasions. All these years later I’m not sure he fully understands my thinking, but he sometimes brings me a single rose simply because he knows it brings me joy. It is not the big expected things we do that really make an impact; it’s the little, unexpected things that count the most.

Whether you manage a commercial general contracting company, a restaurant, retail store, or even a medical practice — if you want to cut down on turnover and develop long-term dependable people, do the little things that show you know and appreciate how hard they work. Remember that your best employees are the ones with the most options to work somewhere else, and realize they care about more than just a paycheck. They expect to get paid for the work they do. If you want to build loyalty, try pointing out exceptional performance unexpectedly in a weekly meeting. Buy lunch and have it delivered to the office or job site. Tell someone who has been working exceptionally hard to take the afternoon off on you. Take your employees to a ball game, host a BBQ, have a Christmas party, recognize their birthday, give them a couple of hours off to see their child’s ballgame, and realize that is important, too.

People expect certain things, and if you don’t give them at least the minimum, they are ticked off. However, it’s when you do something for which you’re under no obligation that you really touch people. It doesn’t have to be expensive — it just has to be from the heart. Do little things, and you will discover that sometimes the little things are more powerful than the bigger ones.

Lisa Amspaugh is Director of Sales & Marketing at BHI General Contracting, a Cincinnati, OH, general contractor specializing in restaurants, retail, office, medical, and automotive construction. Visit the company online to learn more about their services, and call (513) 330-5686.