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.

Preparing Your Business for Growth

The past several months continue to make history with unemployment reaching an all-time high.  However, with businesses being able to open back up, many will be in need to begin to ramp up their manpower.  Having a plan of action will be crucial to seamlessly add the right team members to fit into the current culture of your company.

Needs might include customer service, shipping, accounting or other positions. Part of the challenge of adding employees is ensuring that all are trained and ready to perform in a timely manner keeping your customer service index at an acceptable level. A proper ramp-up period will give you time to make sure adequate training is covered.

It’s imperative to find the right talent at the right time.  If your strategy includes several phases, each of those phases may have different personnel requirements. For example, you may have an early ramp-up phase where you need to raise production to accommodate a new client. Your HR department may look ahead and realize that after ramp-up you won't need additional production employees any longer. HR may decide to use temporary personnel to support your ramping-up strategy. Such considerations may apply to each phase of your strategy from production to marketing.

Business acumen is much more important to the success of your strategy than specific skill sets.  This means HR can become a strategic partner by shopping for talent that has business know-how and then providing training to develop specific skills. This training can be tailored to your strategy. For example, if you know your strategy will require thorough knowledge of cash-flow principles, you can instruct HR to hire people with a strong business background and develop cash-flow training courses for those people.

Being sure to identify key positions will keep you in front of potential challenges.  You can look ahead as you examine your strategy to see what managers you will need to have in place. For example, an initiative to boost sales may require several managers who work under your sales manager, as well as an executive in charge of marketing. HR can begin looking for these key players long before the need for them arises. This approach aligns HR strategy with your company strategy.

If your strategy involves looking for new ideas, HR will have to search for people who have a history of innovation. On the other hand, if your strategy is based on an innovative idea you've already embraced, HR will have to focus on finding people who are adept at turning ideas into practical action steps. By carefully defining this need, you notify HR of the type of employee you will need. This coordinates HR's approach with your company needs.

Creating a consistent two-way communication with your employees to become aware of situations and create mutual trust and confidence.  Having a professional team to help lead the conversation guiding your employees to understanding and embracing their opportunities will be key to success.

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.