7 Tips for Effective Staff Managementsubmitted on 24 May 2018
Whether you're a small business or a multi-billion dollar company, your employees need to be managed effectively so that you can get maximum results from their best efforts. Not everybody is a natural leader, and there are thousands of different management styles that can get results from staff. But there are fundamental rules that managers should live by that will guarantee solid results and help to form great relationships with your team. Here are seven superb tips for managers to follow that will help them build a happy and successful workforce.
Lead By Example
Managers who lead by example will command a great deal more respect from their colleagues, and are far less likely to be ignored or undermined. If your employees see you cutting corners, acting unprofessionally in front of customers and other staff, or conducting in behaviour that you wouldn’t accept from them, it can be hard to be taken seriously and command respect.
Every business has a code of conduct and a set of guidelines that all staff have to adhere to, and if managers follow these rules and ensure that they are abided by, there shouldn’t be a reason for employees to push the boundaries.
Have an ‘Open Door’ Policy
The phrase ‘My door is always open’ was coined for managers, and yet many business owners don't encourage their employees to come forward and speak to them about personal or business related issues. It’s important for managers to have an ‘open door’ policy and create the kind of working environment where employees can come to you and talk about anything that is bothering them.
If you don’t manage to create this environment, all manner of issues can arise, such as workplace bullying, poor working relationships and a work environment where the manager is the last to know what is happening, which should never occur. In order for you to keep on top of any issues and stamp them out quickly, look to build solid relationships with all your employees, from the bottom of the ladder to the top.
Be Honest and Clear with Everybody
Workplace gossip and rumours are always going to happen, it’s simply human nature, but they should never begin at the top and work their way down. Managers should be honest and clear with all their employees, whether it’s something that is hard to communicate - such as redundancies or closures - to good news such as promotional opportunities and developments in the company. An open line of communication will put the whispers to bed and your employees will have a great deal more respect for you as a boss for being honest and truthful with them regarding all aspects of the business. You need to build trust as a manager, and this is a great way to do so.
Get Everything in Writing
Managers who take everything on the word of their employees and don’t get everything put in writing often make their working lives a great deal more difficult as a result. Although it can appear sneaky and a little untrustworthy to get everything in writing - either by signing letters and documents or by sending emails - it is still the best way to ensure that a clear line of communication is being set between you and your staff, and you will always be able to back yourself up with documentation if an employee tries their luck and says ‘I didn’t receive that email’ or something similar.
It’s not just about catching out your employees, though. Having everything in writing enables managers to keep track on the development of their team members, and set reminders for when to follow up on meetings and one-to-ones. It’s all about being organised so that your employees can get the best support from you, and you can get the best from them in return.
Manage Conflict Swiftly and Fairly
For employees, there is nothing worse than coming to work and being able to cut the atmosphere with a knife because of some conflict that threatens to spoil the workplace for everybody. Management needs to be able to spot the conflict and deal with it swiftly before this can happen, and it needs to be done in a way where the people involved are taken away from everybody else and allowed to have their say as individuals. There must be no taking sides or coming to conclusions based on past experiences. An investigation should be fair and concise, and if disciplinary action is required, the HR department should be notified to ensure that correct procedures are followed.
Invest in Technology
The beauty of the modern world is that technological advances constantly make it easier for business owners to run their businesses more effectively and efficiently, and manage their employees better. Everything from scheduling meetings to payroll and clocking in and out of work can be done via online tools (many of them free, such as the brilliant Time Clock Wizard shift planning tool) and you can save a great deal of time chasing up employees and creating a number of procedures to keep them in check. Simply sign up to the tools that your company needs, and you’ll have more time to focus on the day-to-day running of the business, including developing your employees and ensuring they get the best out of working for you.
Encourage Collaboration Across the Board
It’s important that every employee feels like they are valued, and that their opinion matters. No business wants to have a high turnover of staff. Managers want to build a solid team around them and development everybody over time, and that comes from allowing all employees their opportunity to shine.
In order to achieve this, management should encourage collaboration from the interns to the Assistant Managers and everybody in between. Employees should be made to feel like they can have their say in the company they work for, and that their managers care about their opinions. Encourage the sharing of ideas and always acknowledge good work and your employees will never feel like you don’t value them.
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