When you have a team that you are overseeing, it is your job to do more than ensure that everyone gets to work on time and meets their deadlines.
As a manager, you have to ensure that your team is supported and feels appreciated in the workspace, or you may find that you have issues with staff retention and that your staff may also take a lot of sick days. Either way, it’s not good.
In 2023, being a manager has moved away from the aforementioned responsibilities (though they are still part of it), and it is seen as important for people who are overseeing a team to help their employees to be the best they can be.
This can be daunting, especially if you are new to the managerial role, but this article will provide you with some top tips on how you can help the employees you see in an office without having to resort to casual Fridays.
Invest in an Appealing Space
Firstly, if you are choosing the office for your team, you don’t want to invest in a space that is drab. Can you imagine if all office spaces were those awful grey cubicles of yesteryear?
Many offices in 2023 are more mixed and colorful, with areas for recreation, quiet work, and, of course, meetings; they may even have rooms that are separate for people to work and dictate. So, when you are looking to choose an office for your employees to work in, head to The Workplace Company, as these kinds of multifunction offices are what they can offer, which will help you to help your team. Honestly, a pretty office is more likely to get your team working than a cheap one with bad seating!
Work on Communication
It sounds obvious, but many people are surprised at how often it is overlooked as an essential skill. Many managers do not set their expectations or have clear communication, which means that their employees become confused about their roles, responsibilities, and goals. You should aim to have regular check-ins and 1 to 1 meetings with your team, which can offer a platform for employees to ask questions and seek clarifications if they need to. If you find that members of your team are frequently stating that they are puzzled, it may be time to look inward and assess where you are failing in your communication.
Development
Many people are not going to perform well if they feel stuck in their job, and, indeed, surveys have found time and time again that one thing people look for in a job is the chance to advance.
So, it is worth investing in your team, and you should offer opportunities for them to grow via skill development or career advancement. This can include training programs (both in and out of the office), workshops, online courses, and mentorship options. If you have a team that is eager to learn and develop, the worst thing you can do is ignore them, as this will lead to high staff turnover.
Regular Feedback and Recognition
It is easy to presume that your staff will simply do the task that they are set and get on with it indefinitely. However, research has found that this does not bode well for productivity and can actually lead team members to feel unappreciated and fed-up, or trapped.
So, you should aim to provide regular feedback to your team, usually with a 1 to 1 meeting once a month, to assess how they are coping so you can praise them for their contribution, as well as highlight areas that may need improvement.
Again, you don’t need to micromanage them, but letting them know that you are aware of what they are doing is essential to keep morale up and to help them feel appreciated in the office.
Work-Life Balance and Well-Being
In 2023, there is more of an expectation from the staff of their managers to help them maintain a strong work-life balance. After all, nobody wants to (or can manage) work every day, and if you have staff that have young children or families, keeping them in the workplace can prompt them to leave prematurely.
So, where you can aim to offer flexible working and remote working options. This will help to better the work-life balance of your staff while also ensuring that work is completed. It may not be the policy of the workplace to offer counseling or therapy, but if you suspect that a team member is struggling, be sure to have support on hand and point them in the right direction when needed.
