Rather than reinventing great content, today I will re-post a recent offering of the SCORE Ask An Expert blog. The following information is based on 10 million interviews by Rodd Wagner and James Harper of Gallup. Here are the 11 concepts that great managers use to create quality employee experiences:
1. Employees want to know what they are supposed to do to accomplish their assignments. A job description alone doesn’t ensure that. As a manager, coordinate with people to make sure that you and they understand their jobs.
2. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to perform a job without the right equipment.
3. The Opportunity to Do “What I Do Best” is the “sweet spot” of employment. Companies sometimes place good people in jobs that are wrong for them. Recognize this and redirect misplaced people so they can thrive.
4. Showing appreciation for your employees is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal, use it generously.
5. Great managers know that people are not machines. When people feel that their employers respect their dignity, they work harder.
6. When managers give employees opportunities to grow , employees are willing to stretch to accomplish big goals.
7. Ask for their opinions about their jobs, the company and your management.
8. Make each staffer’s work more meaningful by demonstrating how it connects to the team’s goals and the company’s performance.
9. Employees who have close friends at work have the lowest turnover and the most positive performance ratings.
10. Talk about their progress. A manager who focuses on his employees’ strengths provides incentive to work harder.
11. Nearly everyone wants to learn and grow. Create an environment that supports some risk taking.
All CEOs say employees are their companies’ greatest assets. This praise is usually meaningless. The managers who get the most out of their employees are those who give their employees the most in terms of humanity, dignity and support.
Bill Haman, SCORE Cincinnati
Spiraling 