Employees should help to make the business the best that it can be, but it’s not guaranteed. Sometimes, the blame lies with the hiring process, which brought onboard an employee who wasn’t the right fit for the business. At other times, the blame lies with management. A great candidate won’t automatically become a great employee unless they feel supported and have everything they need to do their best work.
In this post, we’re going to run through some effective ways that managers can support employees, which should have a knock-on effect on helping to make the business more productive, more robust, and more profitable.
Onboarding Systems
Studies have repeatedly shown that companies that have thorough onboarding processes get more from their employees than companies that do not. And that should make perfect sense — after all, your new hire isn’t going to know the ins and outs of the business, how they should work, and so forth unless they’re told. Putting together an onboarding process helps to get the new recruit up and running as quickly as possible, and has also been shown to improve the employee turnover rate, which can have a big impact on the company’s finances.
Work-Friendly Spaces
Where an employee works matters. People work much better in clean, clear, and bright spaces than they do in dark and cluttered environments. If you’ve so far viewed your workspace as an afterthought, then now could be the time to look at making a few changes. It doesn’t take all that long to bring an office up to speed. Mostly it comes down to making changes that help improve the overall ambiance while still retaining a professional look and feel. Increasing the amount of sunlight, removing any items that aren’t needed, and adding plants and other touches of colour can all help.
Work Schedules
The working world has been moving away from traditional working practices in recent years, especially in the post-COVID era. It’s been shown that the normal 9 – 5, in-office routine isn’t always the best. It really depends on the person. Allowing for a degree of flexibility can help do wonders for employee happiness and productivity, so if possible, allow for it. This could involve letting employees have flexible working hours (such as starting/finishing when they want, within a set time period) or letting them work from home. If you need to have employees in the office some of the time, then the hybrid work model may be best.
Robust Technology
You can’t expect your employees to work well if they’re continually battling with the tools they need to work, or if they don’t have the tools they need. What this looks like will depend on the type of business you have, but most businesses need to have at least some well-functioning technology in place. If, like most, you’re dependent on technology to work efficiently, then it’s best to hand the responsibility over to a company that provides IT support services; they’ll ensure that your essential infrastructure is always up and running. As a result, your employees will be able to focus on doing what they were hired to do. It’s also recommended to ask employees specifically what they need to improve their work — they’ll probably have their own ideas.
Prioritise Time Off
Now, you might be wondering how having your employees away from work can possibly support your business, but trust us, there’s a good reason for it. Humans aren’t machines and need time to recoup and refresh their energy. Offering more time off — and telling workers to use it — can also help to keep employees on board, which helps remove the headache and financial expense of having to find new employees. It’s also recommended to limit overtime and to allow employees to enjoy their leisure time. It’s obviously good for the employee, but the business will benefit too.
Employee Training
Your employees may be talented, but they won’t know everything. And this is especially true in fast-paced, dynamic industries where things are always evolving. Providing ongoing training to employees can help to keep their skills up to date and ensure that your business is always ahead of the curve. As well as offering general training for your industry, it’s recommended to have one-to-one meetings with your team to figure out specific things they want or need to improve. Studies have shown that businesses that put together professional development plants for their employees perform better than ones that don’t, and it can also foster employee loyalty.