How managers today can organise their workforce better
There are many different approaches managers can take to try and run their workforce in more effective ways in 2022. Knowing which approaches to choose and implement into your company can feel challenging at the best of times, let alone whittling the list down. To discover more, read our guide on how managers can organise their workforce better.
Set your staff clear measurable goals
To optimise your workforce’s efficiency and avoid wasting your company’s time and money, each staff member at every different level needs a clear idea of their role and targets they must hit. You should gather data and inform your cleaning staff – such as how long it should take them to clean a room on average – while staff in the sales department should know their monthly sales targets. You can only accurately monitor and assess staff performance by setting them clear, measurable goals.
Suppose you notice that certain workforce members are consistently underperforming and failing to provide results as a manager. In that case, you may have a tough decision on whether continuing with their employment is a good idea for the company. As a manager, you cannot allow inefficiencies to fester and grow in your workforce. When dealing with staff who do not cut the mustard in the workplace, managers must use their head over their heart, regardless of whether you get on well and have a good rapport with the individual in question.
When setting your staff goals and targets in business, keep the principles behind SMART goals in mind. Good management should ensure that all staff members know where they need to be and when. They generally have a firm idea of their professional purpose and what constitutes acceptable levels of workplace performance. A well-organised workforce stays focused on achieving goals.
Use technology to help organise your workforce
Being in charge of a large, diverse workforce, where you are responsible for overseeing the daily activities of staff, can be quite a challenge. However, taking advantage of the latest technology can help you to organise your workforce rota fairly effortlessly.
Are you a manager interested in using a piece of software technology to help you manage your resources and use your team’s time more effectively? Then check out the Workforce Planner Software from FSI, capable of providing you with up-to-date, precise forecasting of workforce requirements for each task. Use the latest workforce management technology as a tool to help you step up to the plate and deliver when your team has recently taken on an increased workload.
Keep a good track of your staff’s punctuality and absenteeism
Thanks to modern technology, managers no longer need to keep long written registers regarding staff entering and exiting work. Timesheets for staff attendance and punctuality can be done these days automatically by members of staff simply tapping in and out of spaces using an access card or a fob.
Suppose you notice a punctuality problem across this board amongst your team. In that case, you have to deal with this immediately as it will mean your workforce is using their time very inefficiently. Your company can lose a lot of as a result of continual staff lateness.
Try and identify the root cause of the problem and when it occurs. Are staff spending too long on their lunch break and coming back in late? Stage an intervention if this is the case and make the message clear to your staff that your company won’t tolerate consistent lateness; this may be via an in-person meeting, emails, or whatever form of communication you see best.
Dealing with staff absenteeism can sometimes be a complex issue for managers. Staff taking extended periods of time off work due to ill health must provide their manager with a fit note from a doctor giving a medical opinion on their fitness to work.
Try to show your compassionate side and tap into why certain staff members may not be turning up for work. It may not be a simple matter of idleness. The members of your workforce, after all, are human beings and not robots. Treat them with tenderness, let them know you are thinking about them, but let them know they need to inform their employer in the future if they are intending on taking time off work to take leave.
Hold scheduled in-person team meetings
There are benefits to holding in-person meetings over simply sending messages to staff over emails and text messages. In-person meetings allow you to give motivational chats to your workforce and talk about sensitive issues that may be nuanced and much easier to discuss face-to-face. It’s excellent for your team to be able to raise any concerns or complaints they may have with their manager in the flesh instead of just communicating with you through screens.
Managers these days can be responsible for large workforces and have a lot of things that they need to juggle simultaneously. Therefore, being able to organise your workforce effectively is very important for modern managers.
