When it comes to running a company, the employees are your most valuable asset. This makes managing them one of the most critical challenges in running a business. That said, we have created a brief guide on tips to manage your team.
(i) Nurture Good Communication
Honest and transparent communication is always at the heart of a happy, productive and healthy workplace. Begin by explaining to your team your organization’s vision, goals as well as strategies to achieve them. Focus particularly on clear and concise communication in times of uncertainty or changes.
Most employers or managers will agree that face to face meetings and communication is vital, particularly in smaller companies. In bigger organizations, you can share written information like an electronic or printed newsletter. Consider including workers’ contributions, company news, business performance metrics, and staff success stories.
(ii) Provide Feedback
Positive feedback is known to make employee engagement stronger. You should provide meaningful feedback throughout the year and not just at the annual-end performance reviews.
When it comes to negative feedback, ensure it’s fair, carefully, and focused on specific behaviors. Also, give employees an opportunity to express their side of the story. Lastly, feedback should be a two-way street. Encourage input from your team, including ways to improve business operations.
(iii) Delegate
Regardless of the size of your business, it is hard to do it all. So, take the time to learn how to empower your team, especially through entrusting them with important tasks or projects, and then standing back and allowing them to do their job. This way, you will have time to focus on higher-value tasks such as assessing your strategic direction. Also, your workers will appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success.
Of course, before assigning important responsibilities, it’s imperative to evaluate the workers’ capabilities and provide the necessary training according to Tracktime24.
(iv) Recognize the Team’s Value
Consider rewarding your team for things like contributing to innovation, helping hire new candidates and meeting company goals. Rewards can be bonuses or perks that the workers will appreciate, like concert tickets or a company hosted dinner.
(v) Train & Develop Your Team
Training and developing your employees tend to make them more engaged and productive. Also, it helps attract and retain new talent, which has been an issue, especially with Millennials.
Do not just focus on formal, classroom-style training. Consider incorporating semi-formal learning like mentoring, focused reading and job-shadowing. Combine training with opportunities for the employees to apply their newly acquired skills.
(vi) Head Off Conflict
Conflicts in the workplace are not uncommon, but they tend to hurt customer service, productivity as well as employee retention. As such, you’ll want to head it off by clearly defining the job descriptions as well as company procedures. Make emphasis on respect for one another and if conflict happens, do not allow it to fester. Get those involved in meditation and implement viable solutions.
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