By Gary Lim
Is a productive employee
really like that needle in a haystack? Or is productivity
just a cosmetic term?
Almost all employers must have at one time or another been
guilty of thinking: "Why can't so and so be more vigilant
with his work?"
"Isn't so and so been taking more time than warranted to
finish the proposal?"
Truth is, most of the time, employees desire to be the "productive
bee" of the company. To be that shining example he and his
family can be proud of.
Or the first name that comes spontaneously to the employer's
mind in the year-end pay increment list.
For the employer to play
his part, he has to ensure that every single element in
the work environment is conducive for a healthy work culture.
Right
Candidate?
When an employee is showing
signs of low productivity, the employer has to ask himself:
"Am I getting the right candidate for the job?"
While it may be wishful thinking
to ask for a perfect fit, the candidate-selection process
must at least serve its basic purpose; to employ someone
with the right credentials and qualifications.
However bleak the financial
situation of an organisation, employing an unsuitable worker
to fill up a vacant slot will not help matters.
Too
Demanding?
It also helps if employers
do not place unreasonable demands on his worker.
In some cases, employees
are worked to the bone, without any signs of understanding
from the employer.
It is always difficult for
any employee to keep his morale high if his workload increases
with no signs of relenting.
Maintaining a certain amount
of workload for every employee is beneficial to his or her
job satisfaction level.
But overdoing it can result
in them thinking that they have a boss who just simply wants
to milk every single cent possible out of them.
Have
they been properly trained?
Certain industries require
specialised training for the unique tasks that its job scope
requires.
For example, a door-to-door
salesman will find it tough to sell a product if he does
not possess the necessary communication skills.
He may not know how to interpret
the body language of a potential buyer. He may not even
know if his own body language is horrendously wrong to begin
with.
In this case, training sessions
from qualified personnel can make his job easier.
And eventually, a well-trained
employee is better equipped to carry out his job efficiently,
thus bringing in more revenue for the organisation.
Employers have to realise
that employee-training is not a waste of time or resources.
On the contrary, training
boosts the morale of the employees as they can feel a sense
of importance from the fact that the company is willing
to fork out resources for his or her development.
Start thinking of training
as a form of investment.
Different
ideals?
Not everyone works for the
sake of money.
Some work in the entertainment
industry because they think that it's a glamorous field
to be in. Others work in a social home to fulfil personal
self-satisfaction. Hence, every employee has his or her
own goals to pursue.
Like it or not, their goals
can sometimes be at odds with the organisation's.
Sometimes, an employee might
only view his current job as a step-board for positions
elsewhere.
Have a heart-to-heart talk
with the employee to find out how he feels about his job.
Lack
of challenge
Studies have shown that the
accomplishment of challenging tasks is beneficial to a worker's
self esteem.
It is therefore essential
to allocate challenging tasks to employees.
Often, employers hold back
tasks that they think is too important to be given to a
employee lower down in the organisation's hierarchy.
This can result in employees
feeling incompetent and thinking that they are not held
in high regard by their employer.
One word of caution though.
Targets set by the management must be realistic and achievable.
Setting impossible targets
will backfire, as organisational morale can dip through
repeated failures to hit the targets.
Show
your appreciation
Show them that you appreciate
the hard work put in by employees. And it need not only
be in monetary terms.
For example, if your sales
team manages to exceed their sales quota, plan things like
celebration dinners or company-sponsored trips to boost
their morale.
That way, employees will
know that their efforts have not gone un-noticed.
Other ways of showing your
appreciation include awards for outstanding achievements
or just a simple pat on the back.
Eventually, the productivity
of an organisation is as much the employers' responsibility
as the employees'.
While there is no "magic
bullet" to solve your problems, there is certainly
room for you to contribute your part.
By playing your role, you
might just provide that catalyst for a productive workforce.
Source:
1) http://www.meaningatwork.com
2) http://www.balancetime.com
3) [Job Seekers, Bring Along Your Personality], 01/07/2001,
Associated Press
4) [Critics of Contract Speaks Out], 08/31/1999, Stanley
Holmes, Seattle Times
5) [Malaysia Airlines Staff Told Govt Will Protect Their
Jobs], 01/08/2001, Bernama
January 2001 |
