Recruitment is only half the battle. To run a successful business, you need to get the best out of your staff each and every day. Of course, this is a skill in itself, but there are a few proven methods to maximize employee satisfaction, which we explore more of below.
Communicate
Nothing ruins a workplace as much as poor communication. If your employees don’t know what you expect from them or receive mixed messaging on certain tasks, they’re more likely to perform poorly and act with uncertainty. Clear instructions, feedback, advice, and guidelines are absolutely essential. These should be communicated as concisely as possible, leaving no room for confusion.
That can be difficult with new employees, especially in the increasingly digital world that we live in. Remote interviews and recruitment are difficult, but there are plenty of ways to make the process smoother. Effective communication will always be the crux of any business.
Offer training
There are plenty of ways to train your employees in-house, ranging from team days to remote learning platforms like thinqi.com. All have their sets of advantages and disadvantages, but one thing is clear: training employees makes them more productive. It gives them the chance to develop new skills, makes them feel valued, and suggests that there’s room within the company for advancement.
A highly motivated workforce is also an efficient one, and you’ll find that your staff appreciates the chance to develop within the company. It’s also a good way to stop staff from leaving and looking elsewhere. If your employees see the potential to build their skillset where they are, it’s less likely that they will go off in search of new pastures.
Be flexible
Flexibility comes with being an understanding employer. Ensuring that your employees have adequate sick leave and that you’re sensitive to their circumstances has many benefits in the long run. Employees who feel catered for and cared for will inevitably give more to the company than those who feel neglected.
There are lots of ways to be a flexible employer. Letting staff work from home, allowing them to choose flexible hours, and work sharing are all ways to be adaptable. There’s evidence to suggest that workplace flexibility will soon be the norm, which is great news for employers and employees alike.
Delegate
No business owner should take on every task, but there are other benefits associated with delegation. By taking high-level tasks from your desk and giving them to employees, you’re showing that you trust your staff. This is about much more than managing your workflow. It’s about letting employees take responsibility for the destiny of the business.
Hoarding tasks implies that you don’t trust your employees, who will, in turn, feel undervalued. If they sense that you don’t have faith in them, then they’re likely to move onto other companies where they feel more valued. Delegation is one of the golden rules of business. Manage your time and manage your employees’ stake in the company by designating tasks appropriately.
