Startups definitely have it rough, let’s be honest. The lack of a substantial amount of stashed away cash to fall back on just in case something goes wrong, the lack of an established workforce, probably some complications here and there, still missing some equipment, and possibly some less-than-ideal solutions for the time being. We’ve all been there, and it’s certainly not very easy on the mind to stress over making ends meet at the end of each month. Just remember that no matter how much of an “independent” and “self-taught” entrepreneur you might be, you are not going to be successful on your very own if you try to run a company of some sort. Staff is an important driving force in a business, and most definitely the factor which actually allows it to grow like you’ve always wanted it to. So, without any further ado, let us look at some ways in which you could both improve and help your staff be the best they can be.
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Allocate tasks appropriately
Nobody is perfect, and no one knows how to do everything, we all know this. Despite this being somewhat common knowledge, people still often hand out tasks to various staff members despite knowing that they are not particularly great at them. Of course, sometimes you just have to make do with what you have, but the truth is that if you do then you have no right to complain about it later on. This is a process which can potentially both make the staff look bad in your eyes, and they will feel like too much is being required of them. Just remember, there is no use in judging a fish’s ability to climb trees, much like there is not much point to exposing your existing workforce to needless stress.
In essence, match tasks to skills.
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Qualify and train your staff
Expecting experienced and fully qualified employees to just show up at your doorstep with a glowing CV is unreasonable unless you are paying ridiculous amounts of money. We just have to deal with the fact that people are looking for jobs no matter what level of qualifications they possess. While this does not mean that you should just pick off random people from the street and hire them, it does mean that you should train them if you feel like they have potential. If you’re running something like a bar then it might be smart to get your staff acquainted with some TABC certification in order to keep everything running smoothly. If you are going to be installing a new till system which usually comes with a stock management system nowadays, then depending on which one you are getting it is worth sending off your staff to the software’s respective company for training. These are often provided and come free when you purchase a license for the till system itself. There is no such thing as an “all rounder” qualification which you can send your staff on, this is rather case-specific, so just use your better judgement about what is the best choice.
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Incentive, not stress
As much as some people believe that a slavedriver constantly standing over people is the single most efficient way of successfully getting performance out of your staff, it is not only bad for everyone’s mental health involved, but it is also not a way in which you can build a core workforce who will stick with the company for years. If people are not treated well, they will leave when they have the chance, because believe it or not, there are a lot of job opportunities out there. Nobody wants to work in an atmosphere which could make just about anyone’s hair go grey 20 years too early, and the stress commonly found across workplaces around the world certainly does not help productivity. Sure it might give a slight boost every now and then in the form of deadlines and such, but it in no way should be the main motivation behind your employee’s actions. Employees should be rewarded for getting tasks done on time, and in an orderly fashion, in a way where they are incentivised to do so. For example, if somebody gets a particular amount of work done for the day, they are able to leave work early. Or if they hit the sales target as a team then everybody gets a small bonus. It’s the little things which keep us going, and allowing your staff to feel like their productivity actually makes a difference will greatly change the way they perceive their workload on a daily basis. Rather than trying to get things done in their day, people often just wait for their shift to finish the moment they come to work, changes like the ones mentioned previously will help prevent that kind of mindset.
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Make the workplace a nice place
It doesn’t really take much to bring in a friendly atmosphere to a place, but rarely do offices or workplaces do it. A friendly and inviting atmosphere is the thing which could keep employees by your side for years to come, slowly making them into possibly your right-hand men or women with years of company experience. Even for new employees, the more welcoming atmosphere is bound to keep stress levels low, and productivity levels high. Keep in mind that this isn’t just some pro-employee propaganda with no basis whatsoever. There are figures behind these statements, and some rather bright minds doing extensive research. In 2015, the University of Warwick has carried out research which tried to make a connection between happiness and productivity in the workplace, leaving them with a clear answer. Employees who were happy at work and enjoyed their workplace atmosphere, as well as the tasks at hand, were a staggering 12% more productive during their workdays. 12% might not seem like an astronomical number, but the truth is that 12% is a rather large amount when you think about it adding up on a daily basis. By the end of the month that is a lot of work done, and by the end of the year, it’s a gigantic boost.