Being a good boss is the dream of anyone who gains that first management job. No one wants to be the public enemy of our co-workers, and making the step from colleague to a boss can be a huge change in dynamic in the office. As you become a manager and begin to find some footing in the world, it is important for you to think about how to nurture a happier and more productive team.
A happy workforce is a productive one, and one of your main priorities should always be to make sure the team is happy and healthy in the office. From researching the best GMAT prep course online to improve your management skills to sitting down and chatting with your team, here are a few ways to improve the lives of your team.
Be transparent and honest
The worst trait a lot of managers seem to have in the office is that of secrecy. It is tempting to keep things to yourself, especially if it may affect people in a negative way. However, it is worse for you to protect your employees from bad news than to let them know and come to terms with it.
Try to be honest with your team and also be transparent about your goals. If your employees know your aim, they are more likely to use effective ways to manage projects to reach business objectives.
Want a more productive team? Offer them more holidays
The reality is that 20 days of holiday time a year is not enough for everyone. If you imagine how much time that is compared to the 365 days in a year, it is tiny.
If you want to make employees happier, consider updating your relevant HR policy to include more holiday time. Doing so can be a great way for you to make the office a better place for all.
Offer work-life balance
As a manager or business owner, you can become so obsessed with the idea of success. So much so that you might sometimes forget your employees’ needs. But it is incredibly important when managing a team that you don’t treat them like worker ants.
Everyone in your office has a life of their own, their own goals, and unique skills. Each of them should be able to live their life and work in a balanced way to stay happy and healthy.
Having shorter working hours can show your willingness to keep employees happy and prove that you care about life as well as work. Or, perhaps you provide a more flexible workplace.
Being more flexible might mean letting them divide their time between working from home and heading to the office. For example, they might work from home two times a week and at the office three times a week.
For a more productive team, include employees in decisions
There are a lot of times as a boss that you will face an issue or decision that affects the entire office. Therefore, it is crucial that you do not take for granted the importance of your employees’ opinions, as they may be able to help.
When making a big decision, including your employees in it will make them feel that you value them. It may also result in a better decision for the office as a whole. Something as small as painting the walls to relocating is a team effort and should be treated as such.