There are two types of people in the workplace.
Those that prefer to be monitored on a consistent basis so they know they are doing their tasks correctly and then those that prefer to be left to their own devices.
The problem for managers is to strike a balance between the two. On the one hand you want to ensure that everything is being completed correctly and efficiently and on the other you don’t want to micromanage and make some of your team resent you if you keep meddling in their work.
Monitoring your employee’s work can go to the extremes. Tesco were accused of using electronic armbands to monitor their employee’s work rates and managers who take too much of an interest in the finer details of a project can derail the whole process.
So, just how do your monitor your employee’s work effectively?
Set Milestones For A Project
This might not apply in day to day tasks but if you are working on a project that has a timescale for completion then set realistic and achievable milestones.
By doing this you are setting out what you expect your team to do and when you expect the work to be completed. If something isn’t due by the 10th of the month then don’t insistently check up on it on the 5th.
Give your team time to complete their tasks without being overbearing or checking up more than is needed.
Encourage Self-Monitoring
Sometimes the best way to increase productivity in under-performing employees is to allow them to self-monitor their own performance.
Create a task sheet and ask them to complete it for a week. Basically ask them to detail every task they completed and how long it took them to do it. This will show not only what each individual is doing but also show them just how much (or how little!) they are completing every day.
Don’t rely on this as a long term solution because taking the time to fill out the sheet actually reduces productivity but a week long exercise can go a long way to finding out how well each employee is performing.
Create An Efficient Atmosphere
At the end of the day your team needs to feel comfortable working under you.
Managers who constantly micromanage and berate staff generally see the productivity of their team decrease. Creating an atmosphere where your team are allowed to get on with their work by themselves but also know that they can go to you if they need help produces the best results.
If someone logs onto Facebook for 5 minutes after lunch but still complete all their tasks for that day then why make a big deal about it? Productivity doesn’t just mean working non-stop for 8 hours a day it is often boosted by having short breaks.
Monitoring Your Employee’s Effectively
There is a fine line between ensuring that your employee’s are performing to the standard you require and being intrusive into their work.
A good boss isn’t one that constantly checks up on their team but one that allows them to work on their own while retaining sufficient oversight.
These tips should help you not only make your employee’s realise how much work they complete on a daily basis but also allow you to keep track of their progress and create an environment where efficiency is the norm.
