BUSINESS
By Caroline Dunk, Director at cda
The world of work is constantly changing and it’s now more important than ever to manage and retain great staff. Your employees are just as important as your customers. The working styles of the younger generation in the workplace, technological advancements and the need for more flexibility in work can be a challenge for businesses today. As a manager, it’s not an easy task to manage your team effectively whilst also ensuring you achieve business goals.
Here are 5 tips that will help you develop a successful team in today’s work environment.
- Lead by example
Leading by example is simple. Show your team you are in it with them; display high energy, motivation and enthusiasm. ’Walk the talk’ by demonstrating the values and behaviours that are important for your business. Provide a clear picture of the objectives of your business and what they mean for your team. Aim to build trust, relationships and break down any barriers. You are there to set an example and provide direction.
- Embrace technology
Technology plays a huge part in the modern workplace. Offices rely on high speed internet, emails and smartphones. We are seeing a shift in working habits and remote working, flexible working and increases in travel means conversations cannot always be face to face. However, there are a number of tools you can embrace to streamline communication with your team.
Cloud computing, Office 365 and online telecommunications software allows team to connect from almost anywhere with an internet connection. Document sharing permits team members to access files in real time, allowing them to make changes and updates that everyone can access.
Managing a virtual team demands a new approach. Adapt your management style to take advantage of these new technologies and establish new ways to communicate with your team and build their engagement with the business.
- Training and development
New technologies, procedures and products mean we are all constantly adapting to change. It’s your role to track the performance of each team member so you understand the support each individual needs to achieve their full potential at work.
Meet with individual team members regularly and have honest discussions about performance. Recognise successes, provide feedback on areas for improvement and agree objectives. Provide training and development to help each individual improve. This isn’t just about classroom training; coaching or mentoring from a colleague, an opportunity to get involved in a challenging project or some useful reading can also help to build skills and confidence. .
Consider using psychometric assessments to understand how the team are operating individually and as a team. The assessment process will reveal which methods of communication, leadership and development will work best for each team member and also highlight opportunities to improve overall team effectiveness.
- 4. Listen
Never underestimate the value of conversation. Make sure you listen to your team, they deserve to be heard! Giving them your full attention will show that you care and respect what they are saying.
A monthly ‘one to one’ meeting is a good way to do this. As well as providing a way to manage performance, it also allows you to find out how each individual team member is feeling about their job and whether anything is frustrating or troubling them. On the flip side, it’s also your opportunity hear success stories and ask them for their ideas. Investing time in listening to your team shows them that you support them and value their contribution.
- Motivate
Great managers know how to motivate their team to succeed. It’s usually not just about financial reward. Most individuals want to want to develop their skills, take on new tasks, and develop their workload around the tasks they enjoy. Everyone is different and successful managers take the time to understand the motivations of each individual team member so that they can tailor their approach, offering motivating challenges to some, motivating support to others.
Remember to celebrate individual successes, no matter how small, to build engagement, motivation and loyalty to your organisation.
Conclusion
Treat each member of your team as you would want to be treated. Provide direction and demonstrate the key behaviours that are important to the success of your business. Adapt your leadership style to improve communication with remote workers. Work with each individual to help them develop their skills and performance. Doing this will develop a happy, motivated workforce that will deliver great results for your business.
