"If I had me for a boss, would I like coming to work?"

Face it, the people who work for you have other options. (If they don't, you have the wrong people on your bus.)

Offering a competitive wage and benefit package is only enough to attract talent to your team, but it's not going to keep them from leaving for another suitor that's offering the same or better. And if your people don't like their jobs, another suitor doesn't even have to match what you're offering.

As basic as it may sound, any chance that your employees will be engaged to give their very best for any length of time will come down to the relationship they have with you, their leader.

Don't fall for the trendy misconception that in order for your people to like coming to work you have to provide a foosball table in the break room, free donuts on Mondays, and a petting zoo for their children out in your parking lot.

The reality is they will like coming to work if they like you.

And it will be impossible for them to dislike you if they believe:
that you are fair in your dealings with them.
that you notice and reward them when they go above and beyond.
that they can come to you when they are having a problem at work, and even problems outside of work.
and most importantly,
that you have their best interests at heart, and care more about them than the results they can achieve for you.

You don't have to be their buddy, and in fact, you shouldn't be. But for them to be engaged and like coming to work, they do need to like you, respect you, trust you, and feel you have their back.

So take a moment to pause and ask yourself "If I had me for a boss, would I like coming to work?"