What you need to know about employee management
One of the pillars of a successful business, whether small or large, is solid employee management, which can easily create an efficient and operable work environment for your staff.
Your employees help build your company's growth and operate your business daily. Having a hardworking and productive staff is one thing you shouldn't take for granted. However, it is one of the critical factors in your business' success.
Your business may suffer and eventually fail if employees are distressed and lazy. However, managing employees alone is tricky if no concrete management strategy exists.
Likewise, being a crude and controlling leader can cause employees to be demotivated and resentful, while being too lenient can lead them to be sluggish and underperform.
It's perplexing, yes? But worry not! We're here to help.
As you read along, you'll understand better how to achieve the best employee management.
1. Implement a bias-free communication policy
According to a survey, 81% of employees favour a company that values bias-free or open communication over incentives (e.g., entertainment, dining). However, take note that effective communication does not only involve small talks.
As the company owner, you need to implement a well-integrated system that allows your employees to express their concerns. So how do you go about it? Here's how:
- Encourage suggestions and feedback
A vital aspect of good employee management is encouraging your employees to give you and the entire team feedback on processes and regulations. Take heed of your employees' thoughts and opinions and use them to determine mishaps and sort them out.
Being actively involved in their feedback is one way to show them that you value their input and well-being.
- Be transparent and available
Keeping an open-door policy is another way of showing your employees that you care. Let them know that you're available to talk. Show a sincere interest when talking to your employees, especially when you visit the production floor.
Let your employees know your plans for next year or updates on a deal you're trying to win. Share company information with them directly. Doing so lets your employees feel they are part of the decision-making process.
While practising transparency is essential, don't overshare confidential data such as client information.
2. Set clear outlooks
Employees tend to underperform when they don't know or are not sure what they need to do. And, sadly some companies fail to recognise this.
Job descriptions aren't enough to prepare an employee for what work they signed up for. If they are unsure what they need to do, from then on, it's going to take longer for them to complete a workload.
Moreover, if there is no open communication within the organisation, a confused employee might perform the task poorly or incorrectly. Therefore, before you set objectives and goals, inform employees what needs to be done. Be as specific and straightforward as possible.
3. Build a trusting relationship
Trust is a foundation of good employee-and-employer relationships. If there are mutual feelings of trust, it'll positively impact motivation levels and employee productivity. According to research, employees who trust their leaders are 15 times more likely to be invested and happy in their job.
That said, it's essential to:
- Avoid micromanaging - doing so creates a more pressured working environment and can lower your employees' self-esteem.
- Stop continuous feedback - as much as possible, avoid giving constant feedback. Only do so when deemed necessary. Don't give out opinions on every minor detail.
- Respect employee privacy - avoid being too intrusive. Let your employees do their tasks in their own space.
4. Support your employees' growth
Lack of opportunities for career advancement is one of the main reasons employees quit their jobs. Hence, giving your staff new roles and responsibilities will keep them inclined and motivated, helping them grow.
This is another aspect of employee management you need not take for granted. Help your employees build their skillset and help them do more for the organisation. Apart from these, the following are some things you can do to help your workforce thrive:
- Maintain a work-life balance and learning culture within the workplace.
- Let your employees participate in seminars, conferences, and workshops.
- Offer internal mentorship and training programs for your whole workforce.
Food for thought: helping your employees grow is a win-win situation for them and you. It makes your workforce more capable and versatile in taking up new challenges.
5. Incentivise performing employees
It's good to set up a rewards management system for performing employees. It will help them stay motivated to work. Also, rewarding them equates to you appreciate their hard work.
Numerous businesses use an award interpretation program directly connected to your employee's performance. For instance, an employee earns a higher commission rate if they make more sales.
In addition, rewarding your employees shouldn't just be all about money. A kind gesture of thanking them by giving thank-you notes or holding a party can go a long way. It shows you appreciate their efforts.
The benefits of employee management
Setting an effective employee management system in place is beneficial. Here's how:
Enhances your workflow's efficiency
Assist your employees in simplifying organisation workflows. To achieve it, make sure to consider the following:
- Monitor workforce activities to ensure things are running smoothly.
- Communicate with your employees to ensure understanding of workload and project needs.
- Hire potential people with the proper knowledge and skillset for the job.
- Compliment them on their achievements and their excellent work.
- Become involved effectively when things start to get awry.
Improves workforce productivity
Employees who feel valued and appreciated can help significantly boost workplace morale and productivity. In addition, a robust employee management system can connect you with your employees personally.
You can get their point of view on different business processes and policies. This way, they can feel that you value their opinions when making company decisions. Make them feel they are part of your actions every step.
Guarantees your data security
With the dramatic growth of remote teams, ensuring data security is paramount in every company with remote employees.
The majority of businesses handle a plethora of confidential and sensitive information daily. You can ensure these files stay secure by carefully managing and overseeing your internal and remote workforce.
A solid employee management system can track documents and other vital data. Since it links the documents to every employee who has access to them, there are fewer inefficiencies in handling data. So, you won't have to fret over compromising data security.
Reduces employee turnover costs
One of the most expensive costs in businesses is the employee turnover rate. According to a study, the average cost of replacing an earning employee is equivalent to 6 - 9 months of their yearly salary.
For example, if you're replacing a manager earning $40,000 yearly, you'll have to spend about $20,000 to $30,000 in hiring and training costs.
Fortunately, you can overcome this with the help of employee management. Remember that effective employee management leads to contented and more productive employees. The more your employees are satisfied, the less likely they are to resign.
Key takeaway
You can see a significant change when you understand how to manage your employees effectively. The secret ingredients are: to develop effectual communication, help employees grow, set clear expectations, and build trust on a personal level with your staff.
Another vital aspect to consider is investing in employee management software like RosterElf for more efficient and streamlined organisational processes.
The bottom line is that your employees are your biggest asset, and you should value them.
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Staff set the times and days they can work, and RosterElf does the rest. Our software then automatically suggests available employees fill shifts.
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