Protecting your Employees will allow Innovation

Innovation is a must in today’s environment.  However, all too often companies will stifle the creativity of their employees out of fear.  Therefore, there are some things that a company can adhere to in order to get the best out of their team.

The best bosses are committed to letting their workers work.  Whether on creative tasks such as inventing new products or on routine things such as assembling computers, making McDonald’s burgers, or flying planes. They take pride in being human shields, absorbing or deflecting heat from inside and outside the company, doing all manner of boring and silly tasks, and battling idiots and slights that make life harder than necessary on their people.

As a manager or boss, protecting your team’s back is important.  You must try to resist your worst instincts.  Meetings are necessary at times; however, they can also be huge time wasters.  Often, many bosses set on self-glorification often run these meetings and it can cause a morale deficiency.

Arguments over ideas are productive and creative.  The best bosses allow for constructive battles enabling their team to feel safe to speak their minds.  This goes across the board all the way to the leaders.  Actually, good fights or battles will be built on mutual trust.

Some companies are implementing programs to reduce interruptions and distractions.  Good bosses also relieve people of burdensome organizational practices.  Unnecessary paperwork or processes should be limited.  Sometimes good bosses face senior leaders and powerful groups that cram bad ideas down everyone’s throat. When your people’s performance or well-being is threatened by idiocy from on high, you need to decide whether to comply or resist, depending on what will help them—and you—most. Sometimes the political costs of defiance are too high, and sometimes seemingly idiotic directives turn out to be useful.  That said, defiance can occasionally be the best strategy.

Good bosses focus their people’s effort on what matters most. When relatively trivial demands can’t be ignored, the best option is sometimes to do a quick, crummy job and move on to more-crucial issues.  Also, good bosses also protect their people from demeaning, overly demanding, and frustrating clients and customers.  In short, they will take the heat.  Good bosses shield their employees from distress and distraction in diverse ways, whether behind the scenes or publicly. They work day after day to enhance their self-awareness; stay in tune with followers’ worries, hot buttons, and quirks; and foster a climate of comfort and safety. They also learn to identify which battles their people consider crucial to fight, and which they see as unimportant. When bosses can’t protect people—for example, from layoffs, pay cuts, or tough assignments—the best ones convey compassion, do small things to allay fears, and find ways to blunt negative consequences. Operating in this way helps bolster your people’s performance and well-being. And a nice by-product is that they will have your back, too.

It is good to have a partner that is an expert in utilizing the most advance resources available today.  Questco is there to help you inspire your labor force through a plethora of HR Services such as: Payroll Services, Benefit Plans, Benefits Administration, HR Technology and Workers’ Comp & Safety Services.  Utilizing Questco’s vast experience, your company can thrive in today’s environment.

Charlie Reeves, Senior Business Development Manager, has decades of experience in Human Resource Solutions.  He is one of the most senior members at Questco and recognized for helping clients of all sizes save money, improve labor efficiency and provide the strongest support for HR Services.  As an entrepreneurs himself, he has lived the long days and sleepless nights on the road to success.  He brings the skill and scale to support you in the pursuit of your goals.  For more information on payroll services, benefit plans, benefits administration, HR technology, workers’ comp and safety services email Charlie.Reeves@questco.net or contact him directly at 936.521.5841.

Keeping Calm and putting your people first

Like you, your employees have access to the news.  Whether they get their information through social media, watch the 6 o’clock news or hear the latest gossip through casual conversations; your employees are forming their opinions have those opinions have spread throughout the workplace.  Today, the latest topics of discussion are race relations and coronavirus concerns.  Tensions, anxiety are just a few of the emotions your employees have which can limit production and moral within your company.

Central to a strong leadership response is communication and decisive action, both to inform employees of changes in policies and to assuage fear and anxiety. Be prompt, accurate, and honest in your communications. Outline the measures you’re taking and why you’re taking them.  Adopt a multi-pronged approach for communication on your HR team. Use electronic methods but adopt physical communication methods as well.  Always be prompt, accurate and honest in your communications.

Make plans and share them with your team.  Understanding that travel may be limited, face-to-face meetings might not happen and an increase in absenteeism can occur; it is important that you have a plan of action.  Knowing how you are going to respond and spread out the responsibility will be crucial to the survival of your business.  Of course, understanding your business’ legal obligations can be tricky in light of these unprecedented events.  Rely on internal HR experts or seek legal advice to answer important questions.  Also consider remote work.  Sometimes a company-wide work from home arrangement is perhaps the best answer to stalling the spread of a virus and even curtailing the strong opinions on race relations.  Safety of your employees is key.

Like in industries that rely on the presence of physical workers such as healthcare, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing, WFM isn’t always possible. In these cases the HR department and business owners have to answer difficult questions about how to protect workers, customers, and the workplace. This may mean operating with a reduced staff level — or even closing during peak absenteeism.  However, sales and marketing roles still rely heavily on face-to-face contact and relationship building. Provide emotional and logistical support for the cultural changes this adjustment will entail.

Remember that the outbreak will pass and race relationships will continue to improve. Your employees and customers remember your businesses’ response and develop long lasting impressions of how you reacted during these times. Resilient, prepared, and people-first leadership will carry you through to the other side.

Questco is there to help you rebuild your labor force through a plethora of HR Services such as: Payroll Services, Benefit Plans, Benefits Administration, HR Technology and Workers’ Comp & Safety Services.

Charlie Reeves, Senior Business Development Manager, has decades of experience in Human Resource Solutions.  He is one of the most senior members at Questco and recognized for helping clients of all sizes save money, improve labor efficiency and provide the strongest support for HR Services.  As an entrepreneurs himself, he has lived the long days and sleepless nights on the road to success.  He brings the skill and scale to support you in the pursuit of your goals.  For more information on payroll services, benefit plans, benefits administration, HR technology, workers’ comp and safety services email Charlie.Reeves@questco.net or contact him directly at 936.521.5841.