As many as 57% of employees in a nationwide survey said they’ve left a job because of their boss. Unfortunately, most employees don’t quit companies or jobs—they quit managers. Understanding how to manage employees effectively is key to running a successful business. Without employee satisfaction, productivity falters and employees aren’t putting out their best work.
Some business leaders are natural-born managers, while others need a little help. Either way, successful management takes practice and prioritization. Learn some of the best ways to manage employees effectively.
Table of Contents
Encourage Open and Transparent Communication
Just like any relationship, it’s important to manage employees effectively with clear communication. Lack of communication causes confusion, low morale, uncertainty, and more.
Treat your communications as a two-way street, where your employees know they can give as much feedback as you give them. Your team should be able to come to leadership or HR with any concerns or questions, including in-person and online options.
Communication from the leadership level should be transparent and honest. There may be sensitive information you can’t share, but it’s important to keep your staff as informed as possible.
Provide Ongoing Feedback
Managing employees isn’t just about giving instructions and critiques. As a manager, you should value each employee for their role and contributions. Make a point to offer ongoing feedback beyond the typical annual reviews.
Leadership feedback can be project-based or focused on work ethic. Make sure employees know what they’re doing well along with what they can improve upon.
Outsource Administrative Management
When managing a team, it’s important to get as much as you can off your plate. If you’re bogged down with administrative work, you won’t be able to give your teams the attention they need.
Consider outsourcing as much as you can, including payroll and HR. Companies like Highflyer HR can seamlessly take over the administrative work so you can focus on your company culture.
Set Clear Expectations for Work and Processes
Similar to how miscommunication leads to confusion, unclear expectations can create uncertainty. Your employees should know what’s expected on a day-to-day basis in everything from professionalism, workflows, tasks, and more.
In most settings, team managers should set clear expectations. Doing so gives your employees the opportunity to complete work more efficiently and feel confident in their tasks as well.
How to Start to Manage Employees Effectively
If you’re still wondering how to manage staff properly, start with the areas you’re most comfortable with. Perhaps you’re a leader that’s best at giving instructions, in which case you should be able to set up clear processes for teams.
The best way to manage employees is also to involve them in the process. As you’re opening up lines of communication, ask for feedback about management. Your employees are the best resource for understanding what works and what doesn’t.
Running a business is never easy on your own. For more management tips and best practices, visit our blog.
