In the last YES! Your Human Resources blog, we talked about how you can work to become a manager. When you finally reach your leadership goals, we’re sure you want to excel both in your performance and your personnel management. After all, who doesn’t want to work for an amazing boss?

To become the kind of boss who fosters loyalty, productivity, and employee happiness, try these small but meaningful gestures:

• Say “thank you.” Time and again, we say it—employees love to feel appreciated! Appreciation is one of the most powerful tools in your workplace arsenal, as appreciated employees are great for the company; they are happier, more productive, and stay longer. Plus you can get creative and have fun with your thank-yous!
• Learn about your employees. Interact with your team! Find out what they like to do outside the office: what TV shows they watch, what they like to do with their families, where they like to travel. Check in regularly to learn about your team, and follow up on the information they provide (jot down notes after each conversation, if it helps you remember). If your employee’s mother has recently taken ill, ask how her recovery is going. If your employee recently took a vacation, ask about their travels. This small but regular gesture will show that you care about your employees on a personal level.
• Bring treats. Bagels, cookies, a carafe of the fancy coffee everyone likes—splurge on a little surprise now and then! Who doesn’t love unexpected rewards, especially if they’re delicious?
• Keep your door open. Being the boss is busy work! But you want to let your employees know you’re never too busy to hear their concerns or suggestions. Not only does this create a more calm and collaborative work environment, but it builds trust and respect.
• Be flexible. Nobody likes a micromanaging taskmaster. Your employees have lives, and, well, humanity, so they can’t always function like perfectly scheduled automatons. If an employee needs to work from home one day, or to leave early for an appointment, try saying, “Yes, of course.” If an employee needs to call out sick, tell them to feel better soon. This, also, builds trust and respect between you and your employees, and will make it easier for employees to approach you about other things.

You don’t have to make grand gestures to make a difference in your employees lives and in how they think of you as their boss. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, so you might as well do a great job!