How do you keep your employees enthusiastic? How do you prevent your employees from getting bored? We are all kids at heart, so employers need some of the same techniques that are used by parents.

Begin by making certain your employees feel like they're working in a safe and stable environment. If your employees feel they don't have job security, that can wipe the enthusiasm out of the best of staffers.

Enthusiasm is fueled by creativity and imagination, and as good leaders, it's up to the employer to see to it that both are fed.

Take a close look at how you manage your company. Do you hold the reins tight, not allowing employees to self-manage? Staffers need to feel a sense of freedom in helping a company reach its goals and objectives.

Are you engaging your staff in decision-making and goal setting? This is an area often overlooked. Some employers think the goals and objectives of a company can only be decided by them. The truth is, it's often the folks on the front line who have a clearer vision of what's going on. Sometimes, it's the decisions of management, without the involvement of their workers, that can douse the fires of enthusiasm.

I used to go to a hair salon where the owner was constantly advertising and mailing coupons to her steady customers. Her efforts were not bringing in any new business. Two employees kept telling her to offer discounts to senior citizens, especially since two senior living developments had been built within walking distant of their downtown location. The owner felt that she knew better, and ignored the suggestion.

The two hair stylists continued to make suggestions, and the owner continued to ignore them. They suggested other minor changes that would have increased business, such as adding a manicurist. The owner reminded them that the company belonged to her. They became disenchanted with their jobs.

That didn't last long. They formed a partnership and opened a hair salon that offers senior citizen discounts daily and deeper discounts twice weekly. They have a manicurist and pedicurist on duty each day, and the business is thriving. They also ask their employees for creative input to help the business to continue to flourish.

Unfortunately, the company that they left soon failed. Imagine if their previous boss had just considered using one or two of their ideas. It might have made them feel that they were part of the process - and saved her company.

If you want to really dig deeper into ways of keeping your employees fired up, just imagine what you would want for yourself if you were in their shoes.

-By Gladys Edmunds, USAToday.com

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