High employee efficiency is the Holy Grail of the business world. All employers have heard of it and are in a desperate quest to seek it for their businesses. Without efficient employees, productivity suffers and when productivity suffers, so does the entire company. There are a number of theories circulating around the business world as to what methods are best for improving employee efficiency. While every method is distinct and has its own benefits, there is no guarantee that they will work for a particular business or company. The key is to build a custom plan that focuses on the needs of the employees working for that particular business. No matter what techniques you adopt, there are certain important steps that cannot be overlooked.
Appreciate and act on employee feedback.
Employers always know what is best for the business. But do they know what is best for the employees? Nothing is worse for employee morale than the feeling of not being heard by the management. It is in every employer’s best interest to keep an ear out for what his employees are trying to tell him. Simply recognizing the fact that their opinions are being heard can make a huge difference. Of course, simply listening to opinions is never enough; acting upon them is just as important. Hearing opinions just for the sake of it is a bad idea and is bound to create disgruntlement among employees. And a disgruntled employee rarely proves to be very efficient. Weigh all employee feedback carefully and act upon whatever solutions can be implemented.
Drop the punishment routine. Try rewarding instead.
One of the biggest mistakes companies make is to assume that fear of reprimand will motivate workers to be more efficient. It will certainly make them work harder, but do not expect quality work. No employee can function to their maximum potential if there is a constant threat hanging over them. Employees who are more concerned about escaping reprimands are seldom concentrating on the task at hand. Experts believe that while some form of tough love from the employer is appropriate, it should never reach it a point where it starts resembling fear. Try to wean out a culture of fear in the workplace and replace it with rewards. An employee who is tempted with the prospect of a reward is more likely to go above and beyond the call of duty. Nothing screams efficient employee more than someone who is willing to fulfill their potential in order to reap the rewards.
Train your employees well. Train their managers better.
Business managers are the ones responsible for most of the employer-employee relations. You spend a fortune to make sure your employees are trained right. But all that doesn’t mean a thing if there is a breakdown at the managerial level. Most managers are well versed in the science of business management; it is the employer’s duty to ensure that they are equally proficient in the art of man-management. A manager that is more accessible and caring automatically instills a sense of self-importance in all employees, which translates to better work efficiency.
The quest to improve employee efficiency is a never ending challenge. Business experts and consultants can provide you with a plethora of tips, but they won’t count for anything if your company lacks the basics. Follow these simple tips and you will notice a remarkable boost in employee efficiency.
About the Author: Ben Thomas is the author of this blog post and provides employee management tips. You can visit his website 8ws – invoice templates which provides invoice templates that are easy to use.
