The Friendtastic Four

We have some fantastic ways in which you can get the best from your workforce. With these simple steps you can develop a great team, then watch as they help to take your business to the next level.

Simple ways to get the best from your workforce

Everyone on your team is unique. They have different skills and strengths, as well as different things that motivate them to get things done. It’s all about finding the balance of what works for you, as well as your employees.

Not every method works for all businesses, making it important to try out new things. Our helpful tips are fairly universal and are a good place to start.

Appraisals are key
Making sufficient time for each employee on a regular basis is always a good place to begin. One-to-one’s can be used to review staff performance, how to improve and how you, as a business owner can help. It is an important tool for reviewing performance, but there are also many other benefits. Communication between you and your team is kept open, showing you have a genuine interest in everyone’s performance and wellbeing. 

These sessions also present a great opportunity to set individual targets that you can then review at subsequent sessions. Targets are great for keeping everyone on track, managing and measuring performance. This ensures everyone stays on the same page and your team feels supported and valued within their roles.

Make an effort with your team
When running a business and taking on a team, make it a priority to get to know them. Find out what drives your employees to perform and what they want to gain from their role. It's also important to ask about where they see their career going forwards. You could even go the extra mile to ask about personal hobbies and family.

There is significant value in getting to know your team and meeting with them on a regular, one-to-one basis. They will appreciate it even more if you remember what they tell you, and follow it up in the future. This will allow you to build stronger connections with your workforce. This will also give them added motivation to perform their jobs. Staff will recognise when they work for someone who genuinely cares about their lives, not just their job role.

Invest in training
Be prepared to invest in training opportunities for your employees; it will be one of the best investments you make for your business. Everyone is looking for ways to learn and develop their skills. Your team is more likely to perform well and remain satisfied if there’s ample opportunity to learn or progress.  

When organising training for employees, be open and listen to what they want. There could be a specific course that they want to attend, something that benefits both the employee and the company. There are so many training courses out there to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that fits. Continued learning and development are crucial for any team. New skills and knowledge, could unlock that gem, which becomes a true game-changer.

Trust your workforce
Everyone on your team is there for a reason. There’s something that led you to believe they would perform well in this role, making it important to put your trust in them. Never underestimate the need to empower others!

Recognise and honour unique skills
No two people are the same, so no two people on your team will have exactly the same set of strengths even if they are in similar roles. Everyone has areas In which they perform best; take advantage of this and have people playing to their strengths.

Celebrating your team member successes is a great way to reward and motivate them. Systems such as written recognition, award ceremonies, quarterly or yearly bonuses are great ways to encourage everyone. The appropriate incentives will be different for each business, so do whatever works best for you, your business and your team.

Challenge your workforce
Last but not least, keep raising the bar. Challenge your team and encourage them to reach outside of their comfort zone, raising their game continuously. 

A healthy dose of additional pressure is good for everyone. Support your workforce to take that leap, even if they seem uneasy at first. They could surprise themselves with how well they perform, resulting in a boost to their confidence. There is a reason why we call it a breakthrough. A challenge or difficulty often needs overcoming en route to a better way of doing things.