If you are a business owner or manager, an excellent way to keep your employees motivated and gather great ideas on improving your business is to use an employee suggestion box. It’s no surprise many of the answers to the customer service and personnel problems come from employees; however, many find it difficult to get employees to use the suggestion box. In some cases, the suggestion box was not given enough support by management, resulting in an attitude of “Why bother?” In other cases, employees were concerned about anonymity.

Consider a company that reported outstanding success with their suggestion box. This organization used a “Quality Service Committee” approach. The way it worked was a representative took the suggestions to the committee each month. The person who made the suggestion remained anonymous. Each suggestion made was given careful consideration by the committee. If it was a good one, it was implemented.

Ask yourself these questions when considering whether to use an employee suggestion box:

1. Does your company now use an employee suggestion box?

2. Where would be a good place to put it?

3. When would be the best time to review the suggestions?

4. What kind of rewards would you give to the employees who suggest the ideas that are used?

5. How would you acknowledge the employee who made suggestions that were not used?

The important thing to remember is to make sure that all employee suggestions are responded to and the best ones implemented. In some companies, rewards are given to the people who make the suggestions that are used. The reward could be something quite simple, such as mentioning their name at the next meeting and giving them a certificate of appreciation or perhaps a gift certificate to a local restaurant or a popular retail store. It’s important to let them know you appreciate their willingness to offer their suggestions.

It’s a real de-motivator for any employee to have a carefully constructed suggestion ignored by management. Remember, if all suggestions are acknowledged, it will positively reinforce the idea of giving suggestions.

One note of caution: never openly criticize any suggestion offered. That type of action will only discourage others from contributing their ideas.

Imagine if the newly instituted suggestion box was opened at the monthly employees’ meeting. The manager goes through the suggestions, reading them aloud. He openly criticizes the ones he doesn’t like, making the comment, “Hmmmph! That will never work.” After that meeting, do you think the employees would bother with the suggestion box again? However, using a box effectively will yield positive results. Use smart implementation tactics, and your business will benefit.

Employee input is critical to maintaining a happy and healthy work atmosphere, but today’s employers are sometimes unsure of how to get honest feedback out of their workers. Often employees don’t want to give suggestions or offer criticism in fear that it will reflect negatively upon them.