All of us can look around the office and identify the team members who are high performers and those who plod along doing enough to get by, and not much more. Imagine looking around the office and seeing a different picture, one where everyone is motivated, achieving well above their goals, and highly productive. Better yet, imagine the difference this would make to your bottom line.
Building high performers can seem a challenging task, but the good news is that by implementing a few simple strategies you can improve the performance of your whole team, and reap the rewards.
Strategy 1 – Communicate your vision
Staff like to feel part of a bigger picture and understand what they are working towards. By understanding the Company’s vision and goals, they will be more motivated and better placed to help you achieve this. Regular communication on your progress towards these goals helps to keep them enthused and understand what difference their contribution makes.
Strategy 2 – Put aside time for your people
In today’s busy environment staff can often feel overlooked or feel that their contribution isn’t important to the overall business. This can lead to a decrease in motivation and less care taken in their role. By putting aside regular time to spend with your team, answering questions, providing guidance, feedback and encouragement and talking about their work they will feel valued and important, and improve their efforts towards achieving your business goals.
Strategy 3 -Encourage questions and ideas
Your staff are in the front line in dealing with customers and products so are in the best place to know how to improve processes and make changes to improve the way you do business. If you encourage them to ask questions, understand how things work and make them feel comfortable to offer suggestions and ideas you will be pleasantly surprised with the improvements you see.
Strategy 4 – Ask for feedback and reduce barriers
Have you ever stopped to ask your team what they need to help them perform? By taking the time to understand the pressures or barriers they may be facing, you can help them eliminate these barriers, and create an environment where they are set up for success.
Strategy 5 -Help them look to the future
It’s easy for team members to become reactive and respond to whatever is in front of them on any given day. Be teaching them to think about the future for themselves, your customers and the business, you can help them to become proactive and make the right decisions for tomorrow for your Company and themselves.
Strategy 6 – Say thank you
It is true in all aspects of life that people like to be appreciated, and the workplace is no different. Staff want to feel valued and appreciated, and that their hard work is noticed and makes a difference to the business. A simple thank you is an often overlooked, yet powerful management tool. Try to find at least one thing each day in your business to say thank you for .Your staff will appreciate it and work harder in the future, and it will make everyone feel good.
Take action
- Make a time to sit with each of your team members, share your vision for the Company, answer their questions, ask for their ideas, and what they need from you to help them perform
- Make notes, allow them to try their new ideas and solve any problems they have
- Make a time to follow up, review exchanges, and say thank you for their efforts
When did you last talk “big picture” with your team? Do you do it regularly? How often do you sit with each team member to catch up? Do you postpone these meetings because you are too busy? What suggestions have we recently implemented that came from the team? Do you know what their concerns and issues are? Do you know what the future ambitions of every team member are?
And…When did you last say thank you for a job well done?
Our experience tells us that almost everyone who honestly asks themselves these questions will find something they could do better. Your people are your most important asset. Without them and their commitment your business would be in trouble. It makes sense to value them and take the time to make sure you are doing everything you can to provide the leadership they need to succeed.