Imagine if your business had a secret weapon that could boost team happiness, align personal ambitions with company goals, increase profits and sharpen competitive edges — all at once. Well, it does: staff reviews. These aren’t just check-ins; they are growth accelerators. We asked Fiona Wylie, Founder of Brand Champions, for five reasons why staff reviews are essential to growing your business.
Boosting staff happiness
Think of staff reviews as a heart-to-heart meeting where everyone shares their thoughts. It’s a chance for employees to express their concerns, hopes, and feedback, which doesn’t just make them feel appreciated but is also a key to boosting happiness at work. When people feel valued and heard, their job satisfaction soars. This brightens the team vibe and fuels engagement, productivity, and commitment to your company’s growth goals. Who knew that simply listening could do so much?
After launching over seven years ago, Fiona made three key business growth goals.
- Steady revenue and turnover
- Team happiness
- Client satisfaction
Team happiness is essential in business. Fiona wanted to ensure her team were always happy, enjoying their jobs, not getting the Sunday blues, and not wanting not to work. This is where Fiona took staff reviews to the next level by incorporating a team happiness survey. Her employees complete this survey regularly within staff reviews to ensure that if there are any problems, Fiona can spot immediate warning signs and resolve problems quickly.
Boosting performance
Staff reviews are when managers and employees discuss how things are going. This isn’t just any chat — it’s a chance to highlight what’s working and pinpoint areas for growth. With clear and practical feedback, everyone gets the tools they need to make a bigger impact personally and professionally, driving satisfaction.
Fiona believes boosting performance doesn’t come from staff reviews alone, taking someone out for a client win, or bringing in doughnuts for accomplishments. She advocates that you must have a reward system so staff can get something tangible from good performance. Brand Champions partnered with a rewards programme called Matter, where staff can earn rewards for their work and even reward other colleagues. It works on a coin system where coins amount to real money they can use to spend at stores such as Amazon.
Aligning goals
Staff reviews are all about getting everyone on the same page. Managers and team members hash out goals that suit personal career trajectories and propel the business forward.
Fiona recently implemented a personality test tool to have better insights into her team. The tool shows how each individual works best, how to make them happy, how they like to work, and how they can be supported. It helps the team work with one another while being mindful of differences, which leads to positive teamwork and meeting business growth goals.
Motivating employees
Staff reviews are the perfect time to praise your team’s hard work. By celebrating wins and planning future career steps, these reviews show everyone how much their efforts matter. They boost morale and foster a workplace where loyalty and job satisfaction are through the roof, keeping your team stable and happy.
Identifying training needs
The last reason staff reviews are essential to growing your business is that they identify weaknesses. Within them, you can pinpoint the specific areas where a little extra training could go a long way. Investing in your team’s growth is essential to maintain success for everyone whilst ensuring your business stays competitive in a fast-changing world. Your team is your greatest asset, so ensuring they love what they do is the secret to being a champion.
By Fiona Wylie, Founder of Brand Champions
