Ways to Improve Communication Between a Manager and an Employee

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article | Ways to Improve Communication Between a Manager and an Employee

Communication between employees and managers in the workplace is of paramount importance to any successful business. To ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding expectations, direction, and objectives, there has to be a clear and open communication. This post looks at four effective ways your company can open up clear communication and start working as a team.

Weekly Meetings

Organizing weekly meetings for the whole team is a way to create an environment in which members feel able to communicate with one another. These weekly meetings help to break down barriers in communication between employees and managers. Each member of the team is given a chance to talk freely and openly about:

  • Projects they are currently working on
  • The challenges they are facing while working on the projects
  • Questions they have regarding those particular projects

One of the ways to help team members communicate freely in these meetings is by keeping them informed. The managers should ensure that the conversation goes on and everyone is given adequate time to speak without judgment.

Regular One-On-Ones

Communicating in a group may be challenging to some individuals, so you should come up with more avenues of communication for employees. One-on-one meetings can be used for direct communication between employees and managers. This is also another way to ask about each other’s preferred style of communication.

These one-on-ones may be in the form of an informal chat regarding projects and ideas, or may be structured and formal. No matter the situation, take that opportunity to collaborate and connect with your employee.

Keeping Employees in the Loop

A good manager always keeps employees apprised of matters in the company. Many employees often feel that they are not involved in decisions that are made by the management team. Informing employees about the company’s plans improves communication, and also builds trust among all team members.


Use Tools That Improve Communication

There are many tools that are meant to enhance communication in the workplace. For example, one of these tools may include a random anonymous chat app. Using the right tools can improve how a manager and an employee can communicate in an organization.

Open Door Policy

An additional way for managers to improve communication between them and employees is by having an open door policy. This means that the employee can approach the manager in the office with comments, complaints, concerns, and questions at any time.

This type of management approach will let employees know that the manager is always available to listen to their concerns and act accordingly. This style of management will have a positive impact on employee morale and performance. When employees are heard, they feel valued and that is the essence of good communication.

Lead By Example

As a manager, your credibility depends on how well you deliver on your promises. It also depends on your capability to communicate with others positively and if you acknowledge the success of member staff and their ideas. Employees will have confidence in you if they know that you speak the truth and follow through on your word.

Endnote

Communication is a crucial step a company can take to create a collaborative and more cohesive work environment. You can start by implementing the above steps to break down barriers in the workplace and start to communicate openly.

6 Reasons To Prioritize The Physical And Mental Health Of Employees

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Employee Health|6 Reasons To Prioritize The Physical And Mental Health Of EmployeesAs the saying goes, ‘you can’t be a healthy company with a broken workforce’. But, what does that really mean?

You might think it means investing in your employees’ physical health by providing an onsite gym or nurturing their mental health, or reducing work-related stress with access to confidential counseling.

Whether you are an established business or a burgeoning start-up, however, it is just as important to create a positive working culture where employees feel valued and respected. This starts with communication. Not only do employees need to know what their role is and be told how well they are doing it, but they also need encouragement and ongoing opportunities for career growth and development.

People thrive when they feel a sense of ownership over their work and can see where they can grow into new roles within the company. Here are five valid reasons to prioritize both the physical and mental health of all your employees.

1. Recognize that a healthy workforce is happier and more productive

The number one reason to prioritize the physical and mental health of employees goes without saying – a healthy workforce (both physically and mentally) is a happier and more productive one. Yet, although this may seem like an obvious theory, there are scientific studies to back it up!

A healthy body and mind can lead to increased energy levels, improved decision-making and better relationships with colleagues. When businesses value and embrace a more holistic approach to their employee’s health is an important step that can benefit their overall business success.

Holistic health also means that employees will be less likely to take sick days or call in sick because of illness or stress. Employee benefits that can help keep your workforce happy and healthy, include:

  • Universal healthcare packages
  • Dental insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Counseling and support
  • Gym memberships
  • Cycle-to-work schemes

2. Create a culture where employees feel valued and respected

If you want to create a workplace where employees feel valued and respected, you’ll need to start by promoting a culture of respect and inclusion. This means providing a safe and inclusive workplace environment that doesn’t tolerate any harassment or discrimination.

It also means providing your team with clear communication about company values, goals, processes and procedures so everyone is on the same page about what’s expected from them. The more transparent you are as an employer, the more comfortable your employees will feel taking initiative in their work – and that leads to better productivity overall.

Offer regular feedback opportunities for all members of your team so they can understand how they’re doing individually (and if there are issues). And, don’t forget about recognizing their achievements: small gestures like bonuses or gift vouchers for a spa day, or giving out ‘employee-of-the-month’ awards can help to reinforce a caring company culture on a daily basis.

3. Promote wellbeing and strong lines of communication

In addition to promoting wellbeing and communicating how to instill it, ensure that your employees are clear about the importance of communication. Good communication is key to building relationships with one another and helping everyone succeed in their roles. The more you can nurture open lines of communication, the better equipped you’ll be to support your staff when they need it most.

Make sure your employees feel comfortable communicating any private physical issues and personal mental health issues. There are recommended healthcare checks for over 50-year olds and, rather than putting these check-ups off, it is far better to create a culture where staff feel comfortable keeping important appointments. And, even if you offer a great parental package, pregnant women might still need to attend baby scans or unscheduled dental check-ups before they take maternity leave. The same hormonal changes that trigger morning sickness during pregnancy can also lead to sensitive teeth.

Encouraging every member of staff who has a valid reason for needing extra time off is a small gesture that goes a long way, and is appreciated by everyone.


4. Identify and prevent early signs of burnout

It is important to recognize the early signs of burnout in the workplace so you can help prevent it. When employees are experiencing burnout they may feel hopeless, depressed, irritable and more. So, you can see why they might not be productive at work if they are burned out!

Here are some early signs of burnout:

  • Low motivation. If you feel like your work doesn’t matter or that you’re not learning anything new, it may be time to reevaluate your job.
  • Feelings of hopelessness and ineffectiveness. This can include having trouble making decisions at work or feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done (or even by simple tasks).
  • Difficulty sleeping and being tired during the day. If you struggle with both falling asleep and staying asleep, it may be a sign that you’re experiencing burnout symptoms.

5. Encourage best-performance within the workplace

As the leader of your company and a human being with a conscience, you should be deeply concerned about your employees’ physical and mental health. As both a leader and an individual with a conscience, you have a responsibility to take action on behalf of your team members in order to ensure that they are able to perform their jobs at their highest levels.

There are many ways this can be done – we recommend offering company-wide perks that benefit both physical health and mental wellbeing. A few examples include:

  • On-site fitness facilities for all employees
  • Regular mindfulness training sessions in the office or at home (via video conference)
  • Adhoc days off for important appointments such as dental appointments
  • Meal delivery service from local restaurants (or meals prepared by higher-ups).

6. Value employees to increase engagement, long-term staff retention and company profitability

As a business owner, you know that your employees are the backbone of your company. They are the ones who ensure that your products get made and get shipped out on time. They’re the ones who keep customers happy, answer questions and process orders when they come in. In short, they help make sure that everything runs smoothly in your workplace.

While it can be tempting to cut corners when it comes to employee health and wellbeing, it’s a good idea to prioritize them instead because doing so will:

  • Increase employee engagement, long-term staff retention and company profitability. When employees feel valued by their employer – and not just as workers but as people – they are happier in their jobs and more productive overall.
  • Boost morale across all levels of your organization by prioritizing healthcare initiatives that benefit everyone from executives down to every level of staff members.
  • Enable creativity among employees through programs like flexible schedules or telecommuting opportunities that allow workers flexibility with their schedule while also reducing stressors associated with commuting (like sitting in traffic) or needing constant supervision at home.

It’s clear that improving employee wellbeing is good for your business and the people who work for you. It makes sense to put resources into creating a healthier environment and encouraging healthy habits because this will benefit everyone involved – including yourself!

The Secrets to Building a Wildly Profitable Organization

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Profitable Organization|The Secrets to Building a Wildly Profitable OrganizationIt’s no secret that every CEO and executive leader wants a profitable organization, but reaching that goal may seem elusive. With companies going through high turnover rates, you might wonder what causes some leaders to struggle with building their organizations.

I’ve witnessed highly intelligent CEOs start companies with excellent ideas. Some would make a great start but flounder around and not really gain the momentum of success. At the same time, others with similar skills and intellect would take off like a rocket and be wildly successful.

What was the difference between the two? Was it just “luck?” Was it the “timing?” Was it “location?”

No! It all boiled down to the fact that one CEO knew how to create and leverage a talent-centric organization (TCO).

You can have the same success with your company by learning these five secrets to building a wildly profitable organization (hint: they all build a TCO, too).

Create an Amazing Work Environment

Let’s start with the basics that many CEOs may overlook. You must have an amazing work environment. You need a place that attracts talent and makes them want to be at work. Maybe you already have this. If not, you need to find out why. What is in the way of the company being a place where employees love to work? Then, create an amazing work environment that draws in and retains top talent.

When you talk to potential candidates or new hires, the enthusiasm will shine through if you believe the company is a great place to work. Others will feel it and buy into your sales pitch.

Have a Clearly Defined Workplace Culture

The workplace culture is how things are done within the organization. Culture is like a company’s brand image. It consists of its vision (where they are headed, its goals) and its mission (how it will get there, the strategy).

When the culture is well-defined, it gives the company character and purpose. It provides a sense of calm and organization. Some leaders may not think culture and vision are that important. So, they come up with a vision statement that doesn’t indicate who the company is.

Over time, it will be evident that the culture is haphazard when it changes with the circumstances. You don’t want to be all over the place with company values and vision. Instead, think it through carefully; then establish what culture is and put it in place across the board.


Bring Talent On Board That Aligns With Company Culture/Vision

Once you know what your company is all about, you’re ready to focus on the best talent since you have its culture and vision spelled out. The best talent doesn’t necessarily mean that person with the most skills and experience. You want to ensure you bring people on board who align with the company’s culture and vision.

Not every person will be the right fit for your culture, and that’s ok. Don’t try to make your culture work for everyone. Establish what your culture is, then recruit talent that matches it. You’ll find much less turnover when you find talent that is an ideal fit for your company.

Encourage Employee Feedback and Communication

Nurture an environment of employee feedback. You don’t want to stifle communication from your employees. Their thoughts, opinions, and perspectives are highly valuable to CEOs.

Employees need to feel that they can speak up (respectfully) without fear of reprisal. This cultivates transparency and open dialogue that can be helpful for CEOs. Remember, they are not dealing with the same things the employees are, or if they are, it is from a different vantage point. SoThis enables them, they can to glean information about changes they may need to make or as well as areas that are working well.

Invest in Your Talent with Development and Training Opportunities

Once you find talent that is aligned with and ideally suited to the company culture, you want to develop their skills and abilities. Provide them with development and training opportunities. Most people thrive on challenges and learning new things and are bored when there is a lack of stimuli.

Go ahead and give your employees the chance to move beyond their comfort zone and excel. You will be doing yourself a favor, too, because you are training the lower-level talent to take over higher positions as they become available. In other words, you are training to retain.

As you provide team coaching and leadership development opportunities (where appropriate), you create the building blocks of a wildly successful organization.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Carol SchultzCarol Schultz, founder and CEO of Vertical Elevation, is a talent equity and leadership advisory expert with 30 years in the business. She’s helped hundreds of companies transform their organizations and create sustainable, talent-centric cultures that run at maximum efficiency. Her new book is Powered By People: How Talent-Centric Organizations Master Recruitment, Retention, and Revenue (and How to Build One). Learn more at verticalelevation.com.

The 5 Things You Need To Provide For A Happy Workforce

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Happy workforce|The 5 Things You Need To Provide For A Happy WorkforceToday’s workforce is very different from the ones of the past. To attract and retain employees today, providing an environment that meets their needs and expectations is essential. This requires a new way of recruiting, onboarding, and retaining top talent.

Changing your way of thinking about employee retention isn’t easy. And it can be challenging for most company leaders to make this leap of faith. If you are sick of losing good employees, read on to learn why happy employees leave and what you can do about it right now.

The Problem With Employee Retention

Undoubtedly, employee retention is a massive problem for most companies. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the average employee leaves their job after less than two years. Although there are many reasons employees leave, the Workforce Institute research indicates that most people leave their jobs because they don’t feel appreciated or are treated poorly.

Almost two-thirds of workers said they felt more appreciated at their last job than at their current one. That’s a lot of unhappy employees who might look for a new job soon. When your employees leave, it costs you money. And it takes time and money to recruit new talent, onboard them, and get them up to speed.

What Are The Benefits Of A Happy Workforce?

A happy and engaged workforce can do so much for your company. Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to stay with their company. Looking after your staff means you enjoy improved efficiency, among other things. They’re more likely to put in more hours, work harder, and be more innovative than employees who don’t feel valued. A happy workforce is contagious; employees want to share that feeling with others when they feel valued.


1. Offer Remote Work And Flexible Work Hours

If you have employees who travel frequently, or if your business is in a field that requires employees to work remotely, this is an easy win for your company. Offering remote work or flexible hours shows your employees that you understand that their lives are not all contained in their work hours. In addition, when you offer these benefits, you show your employees that you care about them as people, not just as workers.

2. A Little Bit Of Recognition Goes A Long Way

It’s important to remember that your employees are human beings. They crave recognition for the work they put in and the challenges they overcome. The problem is that most companies don’t offer much in the way of credit. When you offer your employees more recognition, it shows them that you care. It shows that you are aware of their contributions and that you appreciate them.

3. A Workplace Where Employees Feel Valued

To feel valued by your company, employees need to see that you appreciate them. You must treat your employees with respect, pay them fairly, and offer benefits that increase their quality of life. Employees feel motivated to do their best when they feel valued at work. As a result, they feel like they belong in the office and want to stay with the company.

4. Culture Is Key

It’s no secret that the most successful businesses have strong cultures. When you focus on creating a positive and engaging workplace culture, you make your employees feel like they belong. You let them know that they are appreciated and needed. A strong culture also means that you have a set of values that are clear to every employee. This helps make decisions and solve problems easier, as well as build trust among your employees.

5. Pay For Professional Development

Most employees want to grow and learn new things. They want to expand their skill sets, try new things, and challenge themselves. They want to look back after a year or two and know they have accomplished something meaningful. When you offer the opportunity for employees to attend conferences, take online courses, or attend training seminars, you show them that you care about their professional development. You can take this one step further and help workers from other walks of life work for you. Applying for LMIA can help you find workers to fill an imminent need in your company.

The Bottom Line

A happy workforce is one where the employees feel valued, are challenged, and are part of a strong culture. When you take the time to invest in your employees and create an environment where they can thrive, you are less likely to lose them to opportunities elsewhere. Replacing your old ways of thinking about retention with new ones makes keeping your best employees much easier. Remember, it’s not enough to hire good employees; you also need to keep them engaged and motivated, so they want to stay with your company for the long haul.

Make Working From Home Work For Your Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Working from home|Make Working From Home Work For Your BusinessFor all the horror and sadness Covid-19 has inflicted on the world, history tells us that seismic global events often lead to unexpected changes in the way life and business are conducted.

World War II permanently altered our outlook on virtually every aspect of life and Covid has certainly given every business owner and employee a new perspective on effective working practices.

The Motivation for Working from Home

In the pre-Covid world, there was a relatively small and select band of people who worked from home. Plenty would check emails, organize shift patterns, and create a quick weekly schedule from the comfort of a couch, but the office was still king when it came to working.

Covid made working from home the norm and the enforced physical separation from colleagues has shown business owners that this model can be incredibly effective.

Time and money are saved on an unnecessary commute, the online nature of modern work means that fear of an employee neglecting their duties has virtually disappeared. Zoom calls, Teams calls, Google chats – it all works just as well as a meeting room.

The Right Tools for the Right Working Environment

There are, of course, pitfalls when it comes to working from home. Some of them are quite amusing, while some are not.

The sight of a stray kid wandering through the background of a high-level Zoom call, the illuminating décor of a colleague’s house that you never imagined, or a dog strewn across the couch have all produced a welcome chortle to the new business call.

Where things become less amusing is that famed glitch in the matrix that comes from a dodgy internet connection. Thankfully, the online world has switched on to new working practices. A reliable connection is the right of every working American and organizations like the internet service provider in Vistancia are guaranteeing a new sense of reassurance that encourages the work-from-home culture.


Say Goodbye to the Nine-to-Five

Covid has also demonstrated to business owners, and more importantly, to employees that the old practice of a nine-to-five in the office does not work.

If a worker feels at their best at 4 am, working from home allows that person to produce their optimum level. People are all wired differently, so some find their best form late at night, while others find it in the early morning.

Business owners are learning to embrace this new phenomenon and it is producing results. Make your business work around the staff and everyone will benefit.

The Final Word

Business changes all the time, new ideas are introduced, and old ones are discarded.

The key for a business owner is to show flexibility that allows the employee to be at their best. If the job is done well, who cares about the when, where, and why? Motivated employees will do a great job in every environment. All they want is a profession that allows them to flourish.
Business is about results and working from home has been proven to give great results. Just mind the dog.