Education and self-development
According to Forbes, sufficient opportunities for self-development and a wide range of ways to develop oneself rank among the most basic needs of ambitious employees, whom you certainly want to see in your team. Restricting employees and not enabling them to expand professionally in a direction where they themselves would like to go is bad not only for the employee in question but also for the whole team.
Recognition and fair treatment of employees
Justice in dealing with employees is very important. If, for instance, someone in the team is trying only to usurp the achievements of others without working hard on projects, and this deception succeeds, it may result in frustration among those who genuinely did play a part in the success. Employees also require public recognition at times when they know they really do deserve it for their efforts.
Benefits, not only financial rewards
Your system of benefits should cover the whole wide spectrum of needs and preferences of all subordinates. Do not merely assume what employees would prefer; instead, ask them directly using questionnaires and surveys. In all cases, benefits should be the same for everybody and their quality or quantity should not be derived from the position or seniority of the individual workers: this might turn into another potential source of frustration or sense of injustice among staff.
Deeper meaning of work
Leaving aside such parameters as financial conditions, benefits or time flexibility, you still have to bear in mind that an average person spends so much time at work that they often do care about whether their job has any deeper meaning. An increasing number of employees are interested in whether what they are doing actually contributes something to society. Offer employees a vision, share with them the priorities of both the team and the company as a whole, and try to be a more socially responsible and modern manager and employer.
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