3 tips on how to be a good boss
Teamwork
In your company you will always be “the boss”, no matter how hard you try to seem like part of the teamwork. Obviously it is not about being friends -this is a business- but there are some fundamental points to be a boss and, at the same time, to form a dynamic and constructive group in which you can also be included. Here are three exercises to improve the productivity of your teamwork, while taking into account the needs of your employees.
3 STEPS
1.- To analyze de working team
The first thing you should do is analyze your teamwork and be aware of the difficulties they face, both professionally and humanly. We mean that, if you want to find solutions, you first need to know the origin of the problem. In the majority of surveys carried out on this subject in our country, there is a high percentage (+ 60%) of employees who confess to being unhappy in their workplace. The figures are alarming when we consider that most of us know the causes and could, to a greater or lesser extent, offer a solution. First of all, we want you to stop to reflect on your personal pyramid of assets of your company. We understand that the most important thing for you are your customers, but don’t forget that a satisfied customer is a repeat customer who recommends the product further. Your teamwork is directly responsible for the satisfaction of your client and, therefore, your teamwork is a very important asset in your company. Never forget. If your employees are happy and motivated, they will produce more and better. This fact, amply proven, must be taken into account when managing your company’s resources and teamwork.
2.- Analyze the causes of dissatisfaction and provide practical solutions
Although financial remuneration -adjusted to the level of responsibility and skills of the employee- is one of the main motivations that we can offer as a boss, it is not the only one. As we rightly say “money is not everything” and this classic is demonstrated by surveys carried out in various media, where everyone affirms that the most common cause of employee satisfaction or dissatisfaction is the general working environment. We are referring to human relations. For this reason, we recommend organizing areas for meals, breakfasts or breaks where interpersonal ties can be created between employees. You can also organize meetings from time to time to encourage and promote personal connection between employees, known as “team building”. Another action we recommend is to make them share ideas, constructive criticism, solutions, etc. that they can contribute to improve each department. In other countries it is a very common technique called “brainstorming”. This method encourages creativity in your teamwork, their involvement in the company and the feeling of being part of it as something important and valued.
YOUR WORKING TEAM - basics to take into account
Taking care of your workforce and making them feel happy and, therefore, produce more, does not only mean that you reward them financially, which is always positive. However, if at this time you cannot face pay rises, you can also reward them with time off in lieu or more flexible working hours. For example, if an employee is very effective and has faced a higher peak of work than usual, you can reward him with some extra day off. You can also improve the quality of life of your employees with flexible schedules, such as entering before or after and adapting their schedules to their personal life, as long as it is feasible for your company. If you want to know their concerns and weaknesses to increase their productivity, you must know them personally. Those with families will need a schedule adapted to their children’s schedules. Singles may not mind going to work later and leaving later… in brief, it just consists of applying a little bit of Street Psychology and applying it to your workspace.
There is another very important technique that you should not forget… We return to the beginning, where we reminded you that being a good boss does not mean being a good friend of your employee. Although it is important that your employee trusts you. Trust cannot be imposed, trust must be earned. Sit down with those employees who have lowered their productivity or who, for some unknown reason, seem unsatisfied. Look them in the eyes while you talk to them, ask them how everything is going and make it very clear what you expect from them. It is important that you listen to them and try, as far as possible, to find out what is the cause of their lack of motivation and analyze how you can boost their personal and professional growth in the company. Many times we do not correctly manage the human resources we have. Analyzing each profile well, and adapting it to the position and tasks that we need them to perform, is an important part of our work as a boss.
3.- Take conclusions
After this brief summary of the main causes of dissatisfaction and the possible solutions we find, we came to the conclusion that our employee is an active value of our company and, therefore, we must take it into account in our business strategy. We have also learned that sometimes incentives don’t always have to be economic. You can encourage your employees in many ways if you get to know them well. Each employee has a different personal situation and, sometimes, a simple gesture like offering a flexible schedule can improve their personal and professional situation and, therefore, productivity.
We hope that our small tips have helped you. If you have constructive knowledge to contribute, we invite you to leave a comment on our Blog!