It’s not easy being in charge of a group of employees. They’re all different, possessing varying skills and personalities. You’re paid to be responsible for them, and that includes overseeing their productivity and development.
It’s therefore essential to know what they’re doing on a daily basis. Having said that, no one wants to be micromanaged or to feel that their boss is continually breathing down their neck. So how can you monitor people effectively, and keep them going in the right direction? Let’s find out right now.
Get Smart
Fortunately, modern technology can help make a manager’s life easier. The term ‘smart office’ applies to the use of various applications that can even be used from a smartphone. People can view and edit company data from wherever they are, and have it fully synchronised with their other platforms.
A person could use phone software to help them with the accounting, and it could connect to the company’s main accounting programme. If someone needed Salesforce email tracking they could use an application that would help maximise their inbox and calendar. An employee could receive reminders to follow up a prospect, or be advised if they were double-booked on the diary.
Some smart apps can be helpful when there are field workers. The employees could receive new jobs by phone, and even receive directions. The manager would also have access, and this could tell them where everyone was, and which tasks had been completed.
Think SMART
In the first instance, a company must create its high-level goals. They should then be documented and communicated to all staff. The term SMART stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
If your business goals are too vague or too complex, no one will know how to achieve them, or if they have actually done so before! The goals also need to be broken down into different levels. There will be some for the company, and some for each department. Finally, there will be the goals for each individual.
Have A Start Of Year Appraisal
At the beginning of each work year, sit down with each member of your team individually. Provide them with their documented objectives, and go through them together. Make sure they are fully understood, agreed and achievable. Let the person know that when there is a half-yearly or end-of-year appraisal, these are the benchmarks by which they will be measured.
Whether someone is a cleaner or a salesperson, they need to receive objectives that fit into the company’s goals. People say the only way to eat an elephant is one piece at a time. Therefore break down the person’s objectives into smaller steps. This will make it easier for you to monitor. You will need to explain such things as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ and ‘where’, in addition to how you will measure their achievement.
Create A Skills Profile Spreadsheet
If you bring the training department on board, they can also report to you and help you monitor the staff.
Arrange for a skills profile spreadsheet to be created. This can display the different abilities each employee has, as well as any training courses or qualifications they have achieved. These sheets are great for identifying team training needs, and the development required for people to meet their goals.
Have A Whiteboard And Work Management System
A whiteboard is a non-technical but highly effective tool. Why not use it to display a chart that everyone can see? It could show the work in, who’s been allocated what, and the tasks completed. This way, everyone can see how the team is doing at a glance – including you. It can also be a real motivational tool.
Work management software is a high-tech version of the whiteboard. Lots of different data could be fed into a main dashboard. This could give you access to a host of information. Such software can be tailored to your team, whether it is a group of salespeople, or a telephone helpdesk.
Provide Opportunities For Feedback
Communication is key to the success of any organisation. Have a big team meeting at the start of the business year, where you identify the annual goals. Also have weekly one-to-ones with staff, and weekly team meetings. Whilst you may be using them to relay information to the staff, they will also be able to feedback on their progress.
As we can see, there are many different ways to keep your team on course for success. By harnessing such things as technology and feedback, you will be able to be both fully-informed and ahead of the game.
