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Managers and supervisors who use negative reinforcement to motivate their staff usually experience an increase in absenteeism and lack of productivity. According to Gallup, the global economy loses $7.8 trillion due to low engagement. One of the main causes of low engagement is poor management.
However, there are ways to improve business efficiency and motivate employees. In this post, we’ve provided tips on how you can improve your processes in the workplace simply by being a good boss.
Help Improve Your Employees’ Mental Health
During the COVID-19 pandemic, employees around the world suffered from severe mental health issues. They had the fear of losing their jobs and their family members to a serious illness. It was also extremely difficult for some people to work remotely, especially when they had so many distractions.
One of the ways employers helped their remote staff during the pandemic was by offering online therapy sessions. People were able to talk to professional therapists while remaining safe in their homes from the COVID-19 virus. Employees were able to voice their concerns to someone they could trust.
If you have a hybrid working model, providing therapy can help motivate your staff and to show how much you care about their well-being. Online therapy still helps many employees who have problems at home or in the workplace.
Have an Open-Door Policy for All Managers
An open-door policy means that you’re always available when your team needs assistance or has any concerns in the workplace. The purpose is to encourage your staff to have open communication and provide feedback whenever they feel the need to.
If you’re constantly too busy to speak to your team members or refuse to help them when there’s a crisis, they’ll feel you don’t care about the company. When employees feel you don’t care about the company, they’ll feel that their work isn’t important.
With an open-door policy, you can:
- Boost employee morale
- Decrease employee turnover
- Build strong relationships with team members
- Train staff to handle any crisis
- Improve their confidence when approaching you with a problem
- Build trust with your staff
Employees will feel more comfortable talking to you about any situation they face in the workplace.
Lead By Example
You can’t expect your employees to adhere to company policies and procedures when you’re constantly bending the rules. If you never finish projects on time or you’re always late, your staff won’t take you seriously. Furthermore, team members may start forming the same bad habits you have and won’t listen to you when you reprimand them.
That’s why it’s important to lead by example. If you expect your team to behave a certain way, then you should behave the same way. To be a good boss and lead by example, you must:
- Keep your promises
- Be at work on time
- Listen to others
- Watch what you say and do
- Work closely with your team
- Always keep your composure
- Be enthusiastic about new projects
- Be energetic in the workplace
- Encourage others to reach their goals
Being a good leader means following all the rules and encouraging your staff to be the best at their jobs.
Recognize Great Work and Celebrate Results
Employees feel more motivated to work if their efforts are recognized. Some employees reward their staff with incentives, but you don’t always have to gift your staff with items. A simple thank you email with a motivational message can lift your team’s spirit and encourage them to work harder.
You can also celebrate your team’s results by taking them out to lunch or having a reward ceremony. This will also encourage other departments to improve their processes so their achievements can also be celebrated.
Trust Your Staff With What’s Given
It’s not uncommon for managers to feel like they have to micromanage everything their team does. But micromanagement has many disadvantages, such as:
- Slowing down productivity
- Annoying employees
- Increasing human error
- Damaging employee trust
- Having a higher risk of employee burnout
- Causing employees to become too dependent on you
You can prepare your staff by providing them with detailed briefs and expectations for projects. Encourage them to ask questions if they’re stuck. Once you provide information for a project, it’s important for you to leave your team to do their work and trust the process.
Understand That You’re Working with Different Demographics
Being a good boss means understanding that not every team member is the same. Everyone works differently. Some employees work well in a busy office, while others prefer to work alone. Additionally, there will be team members who may need more assistance with projects compared to others.
Try to accommodate all team members by understanding what works for them in terms of their working environment and how much assistance they need. Encourage them to speak to you if they’re uncomfortable or struggling to adapt.
Final Thoughts
A good boss is someone who is stern but also fair. You must be strict if staff members aren’t meeting deadlines. But also try to understand what’s causing problems within your company. Use this guide to help you motivate your employees and build strong relationships with your team.
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