Getting the most out of employees is a goal for pretty much every company out there. While almost all companies profess to want to help their employees maximize their abilities, few actually do. It takes time, resources, and effort to help employees maximize themselves, and many employers don’t feel that it is worth the effort. But if you put the work in, you can help improve the output of your employees in a way that is ultimately rewarding for both sides. Here are some ways that your business can get the most out of its employees:

1. Figure out your employees’ unique quirks

Figuring out what makes your employees tick is how you can figure out where and when they’ll be most effective. Some employees may respond to criticism, while others might need to be encouraged instead. Some employees work better in quiet, while others like a louder, freer flowing environment. Learning the specifics about your employees makes it easier to place in them situations where they can maximize their abilities.

2. Manage expectations

This one is key. You don’t want to put your employees in a position to fail, but you can do just that if you don’t manage expectations. While you certainly want employees that can handle challenging tasks, you don’t want to put them up to completing impossible ones. Make sure that you manage expectations so that your employees don’t burn out trying to complete tasks that they probably can’t get done.

3. Make sure that the environment is challenging, but provide a support system

Providing a challenging work environment for your employees is critical to their personal and professional growth. At the same time, you don’t want your employees to feel constantly stressed. That’s why you should also provide a support system. Make sure that your employees feel comfortable talking to you, or to a supervisor, about work issues. Make sure that you genuinely hear them out and try to address their concerns. When employees feel supported, they’ll go the extra mile.

4. Make sure you lead by example

Nobody wants to work hard for a boss that they feel is a hypocrite. If you talk about hard work but don’t do any yourself, you aren’t going to get respect, and your employees won’t try to emulate you. Make sure that you lead by example—coming in and working hard every day.