According to Gallup, managers influence team engagement and performance more than any other factor. What makes an effective manager? How can you ensure that your business is being run with the best management strategies? In this article, we’ll review 3 ways to determine whether or not your company is being effectively managed.
- Start by determining how engaged your management team is at work. If the leadership at your company is simply going through the motions, it is safe to assume that this is a sign your company is not running as efficiently as it could be. In fact, one study from Harvard Business Review showed that “Every 10% increase in a plant’s management index was associated with an impressive 14% increase in labor productivity, meaning the higher value added per worker.” While this study looked specifically at manufacturing, the principle holds regardless of industry. The better your management team performs, the better the employees who report to them will perform.
Take the time to meet to meet with each member of your leadership team. Ask specific questions regarding their job. What challenges are they facing that they are most concerned with? Do they feel supported at work to solve these problems? Do they believe that the company is offering them opportunities to grow and develop their leadership skills? These are just a few examples of the types of questions companies should be asking their managers to determine their engagement level within the company.
- Focus on company culture. Developing a company culture that prioritizes employees’ overall well-being will help to create an environment of loyalty and increased work productivity and satisfaction. According to Apollo Technical, 79% of employees will quit if they receive inadequate appreciation from their managers. Every time a company experiences turnover, this reduces productivity and overall company growth. To help retain a strong workforce, managers should foster an environment at work that is built on trust and authenticity. Effective management creates clear, open lines of communication with their team that encourages creativity and fosters an environment where employees feel supported and heard.
In order to really understand your company culture, it is important for leadership to meet with employees on a regular basis. Encourage open conversations where employees can voice their concerns or challenges and be met by a team ready to partner with them to find the best solution. If you find that you are unable to really get a clear picture of the culture within your business, consider utilizing anonymous surveys to gain valuable feedback from your team. You could also consider hiring an outside firm, such as On Your Mark Transportation, to come in and conduct an analysis of the culture at your company. Many times, an outside perspective will offer you a clearer picture and can see opportunities for your management team to help improve your corporate culture.
- Conduct an analysis of your onboarding and continued training processes. Are new employees being supported by managers? Do they feel as though they are being thoroughly trained and equipped to complete the tasks expected of them within their role. This process is one that should be reviewed and optimized regularly. The onboarding process is a critical step to determining how employees will engage with management from then on. When managers invest in the onboarding process and connecting with their team, it builds a strong, effective team from the start. This recent article from Forbes.com, offers ‘20 Tips Managers can Use to Set Up New Hires for Success.’ According to ThinkLearning, a strong onboarding experience will increase employees job satisfaction by 2.6 times.
Good management doesn’t stop with the onboarding process. Effective managers will provide employees with regular one-on-one meetings to create an open dialogue and continued support in their position. By understanding their employees’ goals and challenges, they will be able to provide their team with ongoing training that will set them up for long-term success. This will improve the employee engagement experience, increase productivity, and drive overall company success.
The importance of effective management can’t be ignored. It’s a pivotal piece for running your company as efficiently and profitably as possible. If you need help determining how your organization’s management team could be developed, you can reach out to learn more about our strategic planning sessions. Our team will help to provide you with a unique view of what your management team is doing well as well as provide areas of growth and development.
