Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
The Human Side of Small Business – Keeping Your Employees (and Yourself) Balanced
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Matt Hymel
Business can be good or bad, surging or receding, nonexistent or
overwhelming. One important goal of small business management is
the ability to find motivated, hard-working individuals that
represent your company's mission statement. This can be a difficult
process for some small business owners-juggling a growing business
with an intense job hunt. Some small businesses opt to hire within
their immediate professional network to help jump-start the
entrepreneur venture and save excessive hiring resources for
business development.
With a group of employees ready to take the business landscape
by storm, you can put your management in cruise control, right?
Keeping individuals happy and making money require separate
techniques and plans. Here are a few pointers (and examples) of
developing a workplace personality while growing a healthy small
business:
Focus on building individual skills and show progress on
a consistent basis. Even in a small business, not every
employee will experience all aspects of development. Having
quarterly or monthly meetings to show employees the effects of
their recent work can build confidence and workplace drive. Aside
from motivating groups, individuals thrive off support from their
superiors. Challenge your employees to perform above their
threshold and when they reach goals, remind them of all the work it
took to get from Point A to Point B. Showing is always a stronger
reinforcement tool than telling.
Address personalities accordingly-like business, every
person needs a unique pitch. Be patient and kind to your
employees. Taking the time to understand their personality quirks
can benefit your "people" skill set and the small business.
Concentrate on exploring and exposing a person's positive qualities
while improving other areas on a personal basis. Learning to choose
your words and tone can make the difference in discouraging or
inspiring a small business employee.
A healthy personal life means a productive professional
one. In no way should your business life pry into your
personal affairs. A small business, however, should provide support
and comfort for its employees when a personal matter affects work
ethic. Having personal connections among employees can help
alleviate some stress from a personal situation and provide an
"escape" in some cases. The success and management of an
individual's personal life can provide the same stability in a
small business environment.
Altering the work schedule can provide a much-needed
change in routine. During the warmer seasons, companies
opt for a summer schedule, where working an extra 45 minutes a day
can cut Fridays into a half day. Other small businesses offer
certain work-at-home hours or extra days off. Whatever
the case, tweaking any schedule can be good for those employees
who tend to "go through the motions." Changing the perceptions of a
work process can spark ideas on how to condense or renovate
operations.
The bottom line: people skills are important to any
business. Participating in group activities inside or
outside the workplace (unrelated to work objectives) can build
trust, a key characteristic in small business environments.
Building conversations with clients or employees teaches plenty of
lessons in workplace communication efficiency. Don't just "deal
with people" - take interest in others' curiosity and create a
comfortable environment for people to openly express their
ideas.
Until Next Time -
Matthew Hymel
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
Rochester
IT Support & Consulting
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