Workforce mangement is one of the toughest challenges for any business leader, especially in these trying and unpredictable times. Now that people are under a lot of stress and their minds might be elsewhere because of the pandemic, workforce management is no lnger just about monitorng time and attendance or issuing objectives – it’s about leadership, guidance, compassion, and much more.
Managing your employee collective for maximum results means employing new leadership skills as well as the right tools and software to maximize productivity and happienss in the workplace, but also ensure a stellar cusotmer experience. Stick with the old ways, and you’ll quickly realize that your staff is unable to keep up with your demands, but embrace the steps we’ll talk about today, and you’ll notice an immediate rise in productivity and zeal.
So, here are the five effective tips to manage your staff and achieve better results despite the pandemic.
Optimize your onboarding process
First things first, let’s address the fact that the pandemic has brought many uncertainties to the business world, one of which is not knowing if your employees will stick around. Sometimes, you’re forced to let people go, and other times people will find better employment or simply quit their jobs because they need a break. Whatever the reason may be, there’s no denying that the turnover rates are extremely high right now in many industries.
So firstly, it’s important to focus on employee retention, but when new people come to your company, you have to onboard them efficiently and effectively. Optimized onboarding is one of the best ways to make a newcomer a productive member of your team from the very start. You should take a personalized approach to onboarding, but you should also automate parts of the process with digital tools, tutorials, and a support system to help the new employees settle in as quickly as possible.
Create effective and flexible staff rosters
Scheduling and rostering are as important as ever, but nowadays it’s also important to focus on optimizing your rosters and making them more flexible and agile. Remember, people are going through their own personal problems right now, so it’s important that leaders support them and provide the solutions that work for both the company and the individual.
For example, you might have created a staff roster that works for you, but have you considered what your employees want or need? If you don’t take their input into account, or if your rosters are inflexible, people are likely going to be less productive and satisfied at work. Perhaps an employee needed a day off to tend to personal issues, and maybe an employee you overlooked could have used the extra hours. Good workforce management means creating flexible schedules and rosters that work in everyone’s favor.
Avoid understaffing and find the right contract workers
Understaffing is one of the biggest problems companies face nowadays, and it’s a problem that can have serious consequences. There’s no telling what may happen, and every day is a mystery during the pandemic. One day an employee is fine, and the next day they call in sick, forcing you to put an entire team in quarantine.
When and if that happens, you need to find replacement workers fast without sacrificing on the quality of your service. Pairing the right contract workers with the right employer is something that the team at 1300 Apprenticeship specializes in nowadays, and it’s this kind of service that can come in handy when you know you’re going to be shorthanded. Be sure to find professionals who can connect you with the right staff, so that you know you’re always covered when faced with the possibility of getting understaffed during the pandemic.
Foster open communication and embrace feedback
A good leader communicates openly with their employees, and embraces and encourages feedback. There are several reasons why you should do this, but ultimately it all comes down to better workforce management, higher employee satisfaction, and better results.
Be sure to talk frequently with your employees, and focus on their needs. Try to accommodate them and facilitate productivity with the right tools and perks in the workplace. Encourage them to give honest feedback so that you can find out how you can improve your processes and enhance the customers’ experience – because nobody knows your customers better than your employees.
Set clear expectations and reward good work
Last but not least, make sure that your employees know exactly what’s expected of them, so that they can do a good job and achieve higher results. When people have a clear roadmap and know exactly what they need to do, they’re much more likely to achieve it, and your guidance and support will be instrumental in that process.
When the job gets done, make sure to reward your employees as well. A good leader will praise a job well done and reward the employee in order to keep the spirits high, make them feel valued, and inspire them to achieve even more at work.
Wrapping up
Workforce management is a difficult task, and it is always evolving, so it’s important for leaders to keep refining the process. With these tips in mind, go ahead and build a better strategy that will allow you to build a happier and more productive workforce while preventing the common pitfalls amidst a pandemic.
