After several years of turmoil, both for individuals and businesses alike, things are finally looking a bit more stable. In our survey of 2025, 96% said that they were optimistic about the success of their business in 2025. In contrast, only 77% of respondents said the same last year. This could be due to the new government being formed, a decrease in stress and a feeling of greater readiness to embrace AI.
Does this optimism spread throughout your business? Business owners are more likely to believe that their employees are stressed (56%) than they were the previous year (46%). More businesses are taking steps to address employee concerns.
We must show a genuine commitment to the growth and welfare of our employees if we want them to feel the same excitement and optimism that we do. Let’s see what we can to do build a sustainable business through employee wellbeing.
Recognising the individual motivations
Employees and employers are often pitted against one another. Employers want to reduce costs while employees are looking to raise their salaries. Everyone has different motivations for work. Business owners, like all employees, have their own personal drivers. They’re not always motivated by profit.
This disconnect is caused by the attitudes that each side has about what they want from the other. Everyone is different – not everyone wants more money.
We as business owners must have productive conversations with our employees about their motivations. We can provide genuinely valuable benefits to our employees when we know what motivates them. This will make them feel valued and help them reach their goals. We can then build a solid foundation on which to start building something truly amazing together.
What motivates employee optimism?
Security is the foundation for employee optimism. People can feel more relaxed if they are confident about their finances, employment, and wellbeing. Businesses must invest in this area to show their employees that they are a priority.
We’ll examine some of the challenges that employees face and what employers can do to help boost employee optimism.
1. Economic stability
Many people have realized that money doesn’t mean everything. While economic stability is important to many people, businesses can provide benefits beyond wage increases.
We have enhanced our benefit package at Speakers Corner to include mental-health support, financial planning help, and flexible working arrangements. It’s not only about having an attractive offer, but also about listening to your staff.
Businesses should offer bespoke packages to meet the needs of each individual. Employees must also be honest about what they expect from their employer.
2. AI and job security
Since AI has become a mainstream technology, employees are beginning to worry about their job security. Businesses are aiming for efficiency, so they’ll need workers who can perform tasks that AI cannot.
In the face of AI, your staff must discover their true value. Staff may have to talk to their employer to find out how they can add more value. A staff member may have potential that an employer can’t see.
Employers and employees need to work together in the age of AI to make sure that every member of the team is essential to the company. Businesses must help staff adapt to changing business needs, whether it’s through upskilling or utilizing AI.
3. Flexibility over instability
Many people are longing for routine and stability after the constant upheaval and change that has characterized recent years. There’s a need to be flexible in terms of when and where you work.
Conversations around hybrid work are maturing. There’s more to hybrid work than a battle for control. Some employees may be able to tackle administrative tasks at home more efficiently, while collaboration projects are easier in person.
Flexibility in the workplace has long been a controversial issue, but employers and employees are now beginning to understand the reasons for the other side. Both sides must be willing to compromise in order to create a positive, productive workforce.
What employers can do to bridge the optimism gap
Leadership teams can encourage employees to be more optimistic for 2025, both on a personal level and a professional one.
- Demonstrate tangible investment in people.
- Create a culture of inclusive growth.
- Focus on the wellbeing of staff and their support.
Your staff is your greatest asset in the AI world. Your business will have a personality if you hire them. You’d be a process-based company without them. This puts your entire operation at risk to being automated.
Employers should invest in the enrichment, growth and well-being of their staff. You need to create an environment that makes people feel valued and cared for. You’ll instill a sense of optimism within your team. Both parties will benefit from building strong and supportive relationships between employees and employers.
Share your vision to increase employee optimism
Our optimism as business owners comes from our ability to see the big picture. We can understand our future by looking at the bigger picture. Staff are not always aware of the full picture.
Your staff will be more committed if you share your vision and explain how it will benefit others. They can imagine themselves on your journey when they know where you are going and why. Your support in helping them achieve their goals while staying within your vision will make their future as bright as yours.
The article Business owners are optimistic for 2025 first appeared on HR News. The post Do Staff Feel the Same? appeared first on HR News.
