Because of massive layoffs and downsizing, high unemployment, mergers and acquisitions, the traditional high job security in companies has largely disappeared. As a result, people are insecure and are therefore more than willing to do a good job so they can continue to be employed. Employees everywhere have realized that the better they perform their job, the more job security and opportunity they have.
So, if most of our employees are ready, willing and able, why can’t we get the increase in productivity that is necessary? We as supervisors and members of management are not clearly communicating to our employees our expectations and the direction we want them to go. One reason is we are too concerned with our own jobs.
How then do we provide the proper direction to our employees so we can improve productivity? First, we need to know where the company is going and what is expected of our division or department.
Well established, consistent direction allows employees to efficiently do their jobs without a lot of supervision or wasted effort.
The next step is one of the most important, communicating the expectations to the employees. They must be agreed to and accepted by the employees. Otherwise they will remain yours and they will not get accomplished.
If employees participate in setting their goals and standards of performance you won’t have to motivate them to complete them because they essentially agreed to do them when they created them.
Once the objectives are clearly established by working with the employees, there are only two things that need to be done to ensure successful completion.
The first is, it must be in writing. People only remember 10 percent of what they hear. If it’s in writing they don’t have to remember anything, and it significantly reduces the chances of miscommunication and misunderstanding.
Your expectations must not only be mutually agreed upon and clearly understood, they must also be measurable. Once this has been accomplished and every employee knows what is expected , the only thing you have to do is monitor the work, keep them on track and remove obstacles that would keep them from accomplishing their tasks. You will be amazed at the increase in productivity and the results you can accomplish together.