Increasing Staff Productivity
by Lorraine Hart, Ideal Consulting Services, Inc.
I am often asked, How do I get my staff to care? How do I get them to be more productive? Before answering these questions, let’s step back a bit and look at some facts with regard to productivity, morale and motivation.
Often I’m told that employees can’t be expected to work as hard or care as much as the business owner does. Although there is some truth in that statement, it doesn’t have to be that way. It doesn’t have to limit your growth or the production of your staff. One way to increase production is by implementing an incentive plan. This plan doesn’t have to be complicated and it shouldn’t cost you money to do so. In fact, it should result in more profit for you.
The best way to implement an incentive plan is to determine what you want to reward. Make sure that the accomplishment of the goals will benefit both your staff and your business. In order for such a system to work, you must inform your staff of what you want and what they have to do to earn their bonuses. The goals should be realistic and within reach. Encourage your staff, but don’t hide the fact that they will have to work harder or smarter to obtain their goals.
By giving your employees a chance to really shine, you give them the opportunity to help you and themselves. In essence what you want to do is to give your staff the feeling of ownership and the ability to control their jobs and their income. Giving them that little feeling of ownership of their destiny may be exactly what is needed to change an average group into a group of shining stars.
Ideal Consulting Services is a business consulting firm with offices in NY, Texas and Florida. Lorraine is an active member of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) and a past president of the NYC, Long Island Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).