You’ve likely heard the saying “your employees are your most important asset.” So then why are you treating them like second-class citizens? As one of the top staffing firms in South Florida, we see small business owners make the same kinds of mistakes when it comes to managing their employees. To help you overcome or avoid them, here’s a look at 4 of them:
Micromanaging Employees
Your business is your baby. And you may think you know how to do everything better than your employees. But micromanaging them sends the message you don’t trust them, stifling their loyalty, creativity and productivity as a result.
What to do: Your employees want to feel valued, not constantly undermined. So get them involved in the decision making process. Thank them and praise them for jobs well done. And delegate responsibilities – then step back and actually let them do the work.
Stretching Employees Too Thin
As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats – and you expect your employees to do the same. But if you’re forcing them to take on two jobs, for just one paycheck, you’re not going to hold onto them for very long.
What to do: Sure, you may need staff to do some work outside their job titles. However, if you really are expecting one person to do the job of two, then it’s time to hire. If you’re not comfortable with the thought of full-time hiring, then consider bringing in temporary help for a period of time.
Not Defining Jobs
Small business owners are notorious for hiring employees for positions that don’t have defined tasks and goals. As a result, the new hire winds up frustrated and floundering within just a few short months.
What to do: Before you hire, ask yourself:
- What business need am I filling or what problem am I solving by hiring a new person?
- What goals do they need to achieve and in what timeframe?
- How will I measure their success?
Then craft the job description around your answer. You’ll attract and hire a higher quality candidate as a result and they’ll be more successful in a position with defined tasks and goals.
Not Firing Problem Employees
You view your staff as a family. So when one of them gets off track, the last thing you want to do is let them go. But an underperforming employee can have a serious impact on the health of a company, especially in a small business environment.
What to do: If you have an employee who hasn’t been doing a good job for a while – and you’ve tried working with them to get them back on track, but to no avail – then it’s time to say good-bye. Nobody likes to fire an employee, but if they’re not doing their job, you have every right to.
Need help hiring for your small business? Call Future Force. As one of the top staffing firms in South Florida, we can help you hire skilled, dependable employees on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis and ensure they get up to speed – and productive – as soon as possible. Contact Future Force today to learn more.