Fostering positive relationships with your employees helps support a work culture that promotes trust and productivity, and reduces staff turnover. Try these best practices from HR experts and experienced small business owners on connecting with employees.

Create a Sense of Belonging

Find ways to create an environment in which employees get a sense of belonging when they’re at work— it helps them feel respected and part of a team.

“For small businesses, this can be as simple as hosting occasional team lunches, making sure remote workers are included in discussions or encouraging space for people to connect on a personal level,” advises a post by Robert Half, a talent solutions and business consulting firm.

“Employees who feel they belong are more likely to share ideas, support their colleagues and stay committed—even when the job gets tough.”

Be a Good Listener

Just like in other healthy relationships, honing your ability to listen can help you foster better connections with your employees.

Experienced entrepreneurs and HR specialists say having an “open-door policy” is one of the ways business owners can demonstrate your willingness to listen. It serves as an invite to them for informal discussions, and points to your interest in their ideas and concerns.

Establishing an open door policy builds stronger relationships with employees and improves everyday communication, explains a blog by talentHR.

Further, “Encouraging openness across roles and backgrounds helps build a more inclusive and positive work culture,” writes Iliana Deligiorgi in the post.

Make Room for Fun at Work

Entrepreneur Drew Harden sees fun as a “secret weapon” for business leaders who want to create a positive and healthy culture for employees.

“Work can easily turn tedious, draining, and stressful if you’re not paying attention and actively working on the culture,” says a blog by Harden, author, speaker and CEO & Founder of digital marketing agency Blue Compass.

Taking people's minds off work for a while causes them to feel rejuvenated, he adds.

The best leaders, Harden says, are intentional about setting the tone for a workplace culture, and that includes adding some light-heartedness and joy.

“Effective leaders have fun. They allow surprises. They take time to chat with others. They value relationships with team members more than to-do lists.”

Model Respectful Behavior 

While it seems like advice that could go without mentioning, think of it as a reminder about the importance of modeling behaviors that support a healthy work environment — show respect to your employees, as well as customers and others who come into contact with your business.

“Respect in the workplace is more than refraining from rude actions. It values opinions, respects boundaries, and resolves disagreements professionally,” says a post by HGS, a global provider of technology, AI and business services.

“Respectful behavior also entails giving feedback with compassion, refraining from micromanaging, and solving problems without blame or shame,” it adds.

A Harvard Business School study of nearly 20,000 employees shows that no other leadership behavior impacted staff members more than respect. 

“Respect makes staff members feel more plugged into the organization. It allows them to shift their focus from self-protection to pride in their work and team goals,” explains a blog by CultureWise, which helps organizations design and build strong work cultures.

People’s jobs are often central to who they are and how they perceive themselves, so respect at work has a powerful impact, explains Candace Coleman in the post.

“A company culture grounded in respect is a formula to bolster employees’ self-worth, unleashing their potential to excel. And a workforce that is engaged, positive, collaborative, productive, and customer-focused is a bottom-line boosting asset.”

For more about employee engagement, see How to Build a Stronger Team in 2026 and 4 Ways to Improve Retention and Keep Your Employees Happy