Enhancing Managerial Impact: Strategies for Boosting Effectiveness

Author: Angela Ash

What can managers do to boost their teams’ effectiveness?

You've undoubtedly read too many general blogs on the subject, but it's awful that such a critical issue is being used as a clickbait.

If you're done with virtual self-proclaimed experts giving you bad advice, read on!

We’ll hereby focus on several topics commonly overlooked or poorly defined but are crucial for successful business operations.

Efficient Onboarding

Onboarding training needs to be effective and focused, which means you should create a thorough plan and customize the elements.

Not every new hire needs the same training program or is lacking the same knowledge. Think of onboarding training as a template rather than as a specific program.

  • You must be aware of what to include in an onboarding training program in order to execute it flawlessly. This list will give you some inspiration:

  • Detail job responsibilities, duties, schedules, and payment information to new hires to avoid negative experiences

  • Submit a job requisition document to the managers in charge

  • Gather all the forms new employees need to fill out

  • Provide all devices and tools for new hires

  • Set up all necessary accounts and logins for new hires

  • Schedule orientation sessions early on

Include additional points to address the specifics of each role.

However, regardless of the variations, you should make sure to define goals early on and communicate them clearly. New hires should know what is expected of them from the first day.

Make Use of New Tech

The significance of new technology is only going to increase.

In fact, the reality is that businesses are struggling to stay up with how quickly technology is evolving. Nevertheless, companies should focus on the advantages and work to mitigate the downfalls.

Start by giving your frontline workers more authority.

Deploy project management tools.

Improve communication.

Streamline processes.

Consider using conversational AI.

The list goes on. Address the weakest links in your operations first and move from there.

Also, keep an eye on the trends, which currently recommend the following:

  • IoT for asset management

  • Cloud-based software for remote work

  • Artificial intelligence for business automation

  • Inventory management software for supply chains

Lead by Example

Be an effective manager. Nothing speaks effectiveness like a manager leading by example.

High-performance teams share a common purpose and operate autonomously within the team. To achieve this goal, you should create a prosperous environment, provide the necessary training and tools, and be supportive.

Think in terms of cross-cultural training, training for diversity and inclusion, and clear communication.

Focus on deepening trust among team members. In this way, teams will become more agile and inventive and also more cooperative in the face of challenges.

Implement People Development Plans

The fact that the majority of workers seek professional development is not particularly novel. Businesses that encourage their staff in this effort are more likely to create a happy workplace free from retention issues.

There are several approaches to consider in this regard, all of which can profit from professional development strategies.

The terms "people development plans" and "employee development plans" are synonymous, but we prefer the latter because it suggests that the "workforce" has finally changed into "people."

Make sure to implement people development plans to assist your staff in achieving their career goals over time. These plans don't take short-term goals into account; instead, they outline the steps that must be taken to reach the ultimate professional goal.

Address the Plight of Frontline Teams

There are ca. 11 million unfilled frontline jobs in the U.S. Frontline workers cite poor relationships with the management for their issues.

Further out, these people usually look for better job prospects because they feel they are underpaid and have a poor work-life balance. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index, 63% of frontline employees are looking forward to job opportunities technology creates, while 56% say they feel pressure to adapt to new technology over fear of losing their jobs while 55% have been forced to learn new tech on their own without any training being provided or offered.

These figures should tell you clearly that you simply need to accommodate your frontline teams, which is achievable through training your frontline managers, providing efficient new tech, listening to anonymous feedback from your employees, and offering flexible work models and contracts.

Listen to Employee Feedback

Lastly, keep an eye on feedback. Address any issues employees may have. Listen actively. Promote open communication. Keep team-building alive. Organize brainstorming sessions. Encourage idea sharing. Celebrate achievements.

A fine mixture of employee engagement, continual learning, and rewards coupled with empathetic leadership and transparent communication can empower any team. A good feedback system can help managers come up with perfect strategies employees will enjoy participating in.

Be creative. Be proactive. Cherish your team.