“Good Employees” is at the top of any business owner’s Wish List. But, wishin’ don’t make it so. It takes time, effort, knowledge and skill to create and manage an effective workforce. Here are some tips on the types of people you do want working for your company and how to manage them.
See “A Productive Workforce is Made Not Born – Part 2” for the types of people you do not want working for your business and how to manage them.
Stars
These are the employees everyone wants. They do an excellent job, with a positive attitude and require very little management. They are also very difficult to find, and not the average employee. Owner’s have an unreasonable belief that all their workers should be Stars, they will not be.
What to do: Because they are such good employees managers often take advantage of Stars. Avoid the temptation to pile on work because you know they will get it done, be careful of burning them out. Also, Stars need support and attention just like everyone else – do not ignore them because they are “no trouble”.
Good Potentials
Good Potentials are capable, steady workers, who are regularly overlooked. They do not shine like Stars, but have more ambition, and a willingness to learn than Easy Goers. They are the people who – with training, time and support – will become the backbone of your company.
What to do: Most business owners are bad at spotting talent. Develop and use metrics to give you good, solid data to identify your Good Potentials. Do not promote the sociable foreman with the low productivity numbers over the quiet foreman with high productivity numbers just because you did not bother to figure who was better at his job.
Easy Goers
Easy Goers will make up the bulk of your productive workforce, they are average. They do their job capably with a reasonable attitude and then go home – a good days work for a good days pay. Easy Goers need structure and respond well to it. If they do not have it their performance and attitudes suffer.
What to do: Too many owners have the unreasonable belief that employees should manage themselves, which results in Easy Goers becoming Dead Wood (see Part 2). Productivity is your responsibility. You get the workforce you are willing to tolerate. Nearly all employees work better when you use consequences and incentives. It is your job to be the leader of your company and learn these techniques.
It is difficult to create a productive workforce. You can have one filled with Stars, Good Potentials and Easy Goers when you are willing to do your job. If you are not willing to accept and meet the challenges of your position, why do you expect your employees to do it for you?
At Cogent Analytics, we never stop looking for ways to improve your business and neither should you. So, check out some of our other posts for helpful business information:
