The best way to maximize your company’s competitive advantage is to fully leverage your existing workforce. By improving employee performance, you’re saving time and recruitment dollars as compared to increased turnover and hiring.
That said, boosting the morale and performance of your workforce does not have to require a big time investment. Here are 5 ways you can improve employee performance in less than a couple of hours out of your week.
1. Communicate Clear Expectations
Often, managers believe that what they expect of their direct reports is perfectly clear, but when you speak to employees, you get a different response. And when employees fail to meet standards, the results speak for themselves.
Check in with managers to see how they are communicating project needs and expectations to avoid providing an easy excuse for employee performance failures.
Additionally, when job descriptions are updated or created, it’s your role to ensure clear standards and measurements for meeting those standards are included.
2. Create a High-Performing Culture
Like the top athletes on any sports team, high performers in your organization are just waiting for you to create an environment in which they can thrive and meet ever-higher goals. Their success encourages others to strive for the best they can achieve as well.
By encouraging top performers – as well as pairing them with middle or lower performers for mentoring and coaching – companies see overall results improve. Google runs a training program based on this type of model, perhaps because employees retain more information if it comes from peers rather than outside trainers or facilitators.
3. Don’t Just Evaluate Performance
At a time when many companies are abandoning the traditional employee review process, it’s wise to look at your own procedures to see how they can be modernized. Industry data suggests that a more open review process leads to improved employee performance.
Create a regular check in process that includes two-way feedback and questions. Ask employees where they need assistance or where they are struggling, then find ways to support them.
4. Create a Values-Centered Culture
When you create a values-centered organization and people are inspired to move initiatives forward in service of delivering on the mission, employee engagement and employee performance naturally excel.
When you deploy a compelling employee value proposition, or employment brand, and you deliver on your promises, the right people are attracted to and stay with your organization for the right reasons.
5. Employees Want More Than Benefits and Autonomy
Many business leaders today walk into the pitfall of thinking if they offer enough perks, like flex time, remote working and great benefits, employee performance will increase. Similarly, some believe employees will work harder to achieve autonomy to operate independently.
The reality is that employees with the highest levels of performance feel a drive to perform that comes from a values-driven culture and a smart management strategy, including the manager they report to directly. If those elements aren’t in place, it’s unlikely the best benefits in the world will keep great employees.
This is why it’s important to train managers on how to manage each individual whole person they’ve hired. If you’re ready to improve employee performance through conscious hiring, contact us today.
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