Getting the Best out of Your Employees

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StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | Getting the Best out of Your EmployeesAlthough everyone faces stress in their jobs from one time or another, for the most part, they should love what they do. As an employer, you need a reliable and positive team of staff that does their best every day; however, occasionally it can be hard to keep employees motivated. Here are some ideas to help you get the best out of your employees and keep them happy at work.

Recruitment

It all starts with hiring the right people for the job. The reality is that you can’t always predict how well an individual is going to work based purely on a resume and interview. Sometimes they can appear to be the perfect candidate, only to be less than impressive when they start the job. It’s worth looking at your recruitment techniques and seeing if there are any ways you can test candidates further before offering them a position. Use recruitment agencies to narrow down the applicants before you set up interviews.

Training

Every office tends to do things a little differently to others. Therefore take the time to train your staff on how you want things done. It could be that you need them to learn how to use a new computer program or a new compliance policy. Your staff won’t feel confident if they haven’t been trained efficiently and this will have an effect on their standards of work.

The Right Environment

Creating a positive working environment is also very important. If the office looks drab and gray, think about adding some color or plant life to make it feel less cold. Make sure that the staff break room is comfortable and stocked with a range of snacks and beverages. Perhaps consider introducing a work sports team that they can take part in recreationally? All of these little touches help your staff feel more comfortable at work and encouraging them to become friends means they can look forward to coming into work each day.

Communication

If you want to get the best from your staff, you need to be engaging in regular conversations with them about their progress. Hold appraisals where you can discuss with them how well they’re doing and in which areas they need to improve. This will also allow them to share any concerns they might have with you.

Also look at how the communication works in the office overall. Make sure your staff can communicate with each other quickly over the networks to complete work tasks faster. Contact IT support experts like Capstone IT Services (Florida) to help improve your business network.

Rewards

Finally, consider implementing a rewards system at work to motivate your staff to hit their targets and work to their best ability every day. This will let them know their hard work is appreciated and they will be recognized for their efforts.

It’s important to keep your staff happy at work. Consider using some of the ideas above to help boost morale in your office.

8 Reasons Why Workplace Safety Training is So Important

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StrategyDriven Talent Management Article | 8 Reasons Why Workplace Safety Training is So ImportantIf you’re new to running a business, or even new to a leadership position, you might be in charge of developing or delegating some kind of workplace safety training. Depending on your form of work, though, this might not seem super important.

Why does your staff need workplace safety training? Are they working in particularly dangerous environments? Do they work with hazardous materials?

Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t benefit from instruction on how to be safe in a work environment. Employee safety training doesn’t just protect the employees; it can also protect your business, your equipment, and your customers.

If you’re interested in just a few reasons why workplace safety training is so essential for your business, keep reading.

1. Workplace Safety Training Makes Employees More Productive

A strong focus on workplace safety can actually increase the productivity of your employees.

Employees who know how to use their materials and equipment safely and properly are able to do so with more ease, making them more productive at work.

Proper safety training will go over how to avoid any simple mishaps that are easy to prevent. With this in the back of their mind, the employee can do things more efficiently and avoid any mistakes that will set back their workflow.

It also creates an environment where people want to be safe. Focusing on safety in the workplace fosters an idea that safety is an integral part of the job. Teaching them safety training topics ahead of time allows them to be productive both on and off the job site.

2. A Safe Environment Earns You Customers

While customers might not know for sure what’s going on behind the scenes at your business, they can likely sense a safe and comfortable environment when they’re in one.

When all employees are functioning like a well-oiled machine, it makes the business more trustworthy as a whole. A trustworthy business earns and maintains their clients, which helps your company.

Safety also reduces downtime in the business, making it more reliable to customers (and potential customers). If they have to worry about possible lapses in safety, causing them to be impacted, they may choose a different business to patronize.

3. Employee Protection

A good workplace safety training system ensures that your employees are safe from harm in the workplace, or at least safer.

Your employees are the backbone of your business, and keeping them safe and supported is crucial to your success.

Safe employees mean a lower turnover rate. It costs a lot to hire a new employee if one leaves due to an unsafe environment, and not all businesses can shoulder that cost.

4. Higher Standards for Work Areas

Employees that are properly trained in safety will know the reasons as to why keeping a clean workspace is so important, and they’ll feel more motivated to maintain their space.

A clean workspace helps to avoid any misplaced items that could cause an employee to trip and damage themselves or the item in question, which could be a valuable work object.

Employees who aren’t trained in the importance of work safety may not see the importance of a tidy workspace, seeing it more as extra “busy work” to be left to the bottom of their “to do” list.

5. Fewer Worker’s Compensation Claims

An employee who gets hurt on the job is going to file a worker’s compensation claim so that they’re able to receive care and treat their injury.

More claims over time can mean higher premiums and rates for your worker’s compensation insurance. This is bad for your business, as it will cost you a lot of money.

While worker’s comp is great for protecting employees, the hope is that you don’t really need to use it in a safe workplace. Proper safety training will help you work towards that goal. However, no matter what you do or how you prepare, sometimes accidents still happen, and it’s crucial that your team is aware of the help they can get when it comes to a work-related shoulder injury, for example. Some worker’s compensation claims are absolutely necessary and should not be avoided.

6. Happier Employees

Employees that know their safety is being considered are going to be happier overall. Happy employees are much more likely to stay with your company, further reducing your turnover rate and increasing productivity.

A happy employee is also good for customers, as they’ll be more attentive, more enthusiastic, and more pleasant to work with.

Happy employees create a more functional work environment for everyone.

7. Protect Your Workspace

Not only are the people in your workplace protected, but the workplace itself will be protected too.

You can avoid damage to equipment or the work buildings themselves by simply instructing on proper safety ahead of time.

Some equipment is expensive and difficult to replace. Hazards in the workplace can also threaten the business itself. A fire or flood, for example, caused by poor workplace safety, could completely ruin a business space.

8. Reduce the Cost of Doing Business

Not following safety protocol can end up being very costly for a business. Aside from dealing with worker’s compensation and the potential replacement of damaged equipment or employees who have left due to an unsafe environment, downtime has to be considered in your costs.

If poor safety habits cause your business to have too much downtime, you’re going to be actively losing money. Teaching safety ahead of time avoids this problem and keeps your business running smoothly.

Do You Have Workplace Safety Training in Place?

Workplace safety training might seem like a hassle, but it can seriously improve the quality of life for your employees and your customers, which will help your business overall.

Safe employees are happy employees, and happy employees want to do a good job for your company.

For more articles on achieving business success, check out the rest of the site.

Cyber Security Personnel

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Cyber Security Personnel, LLCCyber Security Personnel, LLC

Cyber security companies the likes of General Dynamics, KnowBe4, Raytheon Cyber, Herjavec Group, Cisco, Lockheed Martin, FireEye, BAE Systems, Optiv, Booz Allen Hamilton, Rapid7, and Northrop Grumman Corp are looking for highly qualified proven leaders with talent and skill to fill the high demand in cyber security. “Cybersecurity Ventures predicts there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by 2021.” -CYBERCRIME Magazine. There is currently a shortage of candidates with the combined leadership, talent, and skill these companies are seeking to meet demand. These companies are committed to training proven leaders from other disciplines to fill their needs.

Cyber Security Personnel has strong relationships with proven leaders who are currently serving or just recently completed their service to our country.

Our mission is to transition these proven leaders from their careers in the military and place them in the civilian cyber security sector to continue their service in protecting our country. Cyber Security Personnel has developed a proprietary training protocol to ensure a successful transition and placement.

Contact Cyber Security Personnel, LLC

Phone: 602-686-8354

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://cybersecuritypersonnel.com/

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Workplace Depression: This is How to Tell Your Employees Are Depressed

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StrategyDriven, Business Management, Mental Health, Work-Life Balance,You’ve always dreamed of having happy, hardworking employees that grow your brand every day…

…But life happens.

Sometimes employees are upset or not working as hard as they once did, whether because of personal problems or unfortunate social situations.

As their leader, you may wonder how to tell if your employees are showing signs of depression.

Keep reading to learn how to identify workplace depression along. We also offer a couple of tips on how to approach a depressed worker.

The Signs of Workplace Depression

Depression in the workplace may be difficult to look out for, especially if your Bachelor’s degree isn’t in psychology.

Depression is not balling up and crying in a dark corner or isolating yourself in a cubicle and never talking to people.

Types of depression can range from a state of low moods to immense hopelessness and everything in between. These states of being can strongly impede cognitive functioning and working relationships.

The constant negative thinking patterns brought about by a depressive mood set can welcome in unhealthy thoughts, including suicidal ones. Depression can be a very personal mental health issue that is hard to spot in certain individuals.

However, the Mental Health Foundation has provided guidelines for employees, coworkers, and friends to look out for:

  • Physical signs of self-harm (such as seeing scarring on the wrists)
  • Decreased appetite
  • Loss of interest in once exciting things
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Persistent states of sadness
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Anxious tendencies
  • Comments about death and suicide
  • Strong statements about hopelessness

A general lower state of being may seem to plague your employee.

These signs can come to fruition in different ways. Once productive employees may suddenly start missing deadlines. Once excited employees may no longer have anything to say in meetings.

It is a general rule of thumb to look for major behavior and productivity shifts, as these could be indicators that it’s time to seek psychology and counselling services to address potential underlying issues.

Unhealthy Workplace Situations

While the workplace environment may not exclusively cause an employee to become depressed, conditions within the workplace may not be doing much to help a depressed employee.

Having your employees work long, irregular hours will only encourage the fatigue and tiredness that come along with depressing thoughts. Working these excruciating kinds of hours also makes it difficult to have a life outside of work, not to mention the lack of sleep that often comes with irregular, demanding work schedules.

Having a routine that is – perhaps – too scheduled may also contribute to depression in the workplace. Overwhelming redundancy in workplace operations may not be stimulating enough for some employees.

Making projects or due dates that are too challenging, or maybe even impossible, also lends to an upsetting workplace environment. It is always important to recognize employee strengths and be sure to help your employees grow and learn without having goals that are overly strenuous.

All businesses have to deal with difficult situations, which may or may not involve difficult customers. Handling these situations may be part of an employee’s daily tasks, but it is important to support any employee that is enduring any sort of heat for any issues with or complains about the company or its products or services.
The goal is to create a productive yet supportive workplace that recognizes hardworking staff.

What Happens When Depression Goes Unnoticed?

As depression unfolds over time, small behavior changes follow. Then, major shifts of behavior changes follow.
These shifts could bring major consequences, which could include unsafe decision-making, poor communication, and even dramatic lash-outs.

Depressed employees may start missing deadlines or stop producing quality work. They may not be properly dressed or start coming later and later. They will be less dedicated to the company overall because of the war going on in their mind.

The last thing that these people need to hear is that they’re fired.

They need support. They need help. They need someone to care.
There are many ways that you can go about supporting these employees and turn your work environment around.

What You Can Do As Their Boss

The number one thing that you should make sure of as a boss is that your staff is comfortable. If they aren’t comfortable, good work will not be done.

Vulnerability in the workplace is one of the biggest challenges for all businesses. Being open with your boss about your mental health – especially if your thoughts aren’t positive – is nearly impossible to do. There are many fears about termination or judgment that circle around the idea of sharing mental health in the workplace.

The number one thing you can do is to put an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place. EAPs are fantastic for giving your employees a place to voice their personal problems, whether these involve issues at home or at work. Learning more about EAPs is important to establishing a healthy working environment and giving a platform for your employees to get the help that they need.

Having staff members who are trained in identifying signs of depression and other mental health issues is also a great idea to ensure you’re supporting your team. These professionals will be able to spot the signs and help your employees before something goes wrong.

Along with preventing the unhealthy workplace situations that we discussed earlier, it would be beneficial to encourage regular, clear communication overall. Stress builds up over time when expectations aren’t being met or not even being set. Communicating your wants and needs while taking their wants and needs into consideration is important for a smooth-running business.

Overall, the best thing you can do is support your employees. You are their leader in the workplace.

Moving Forward

As you carry on with your business, it is important to know how damaging depression can be. It is important to remember that depression is a complex chemical imbalance, and it is not the employee’s fault or your fault.
Be sure to support your employees and provide the mental health resources that they need. These resources may even be useful for you in times of trouble.

Remember to reach out and support your team, especially when facing possible workplace depression. You’re all in this together.

Arresting The Usual Suspects Of Downtime

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Downtime|Arresting The Usual Suspects Of DowntimeTime wasted in business is money wasted. You’re still paying the bills, paying your employees and missing out on revenue for every single minute spent fruitlessly. In the pursuit of more efficient and productive workplaces, it’s important to look at the risk of downtime and where it might be rearing its ugly head in your business. Here are a few of the usual suspects.

Distraction and human error

This might be the first suspicion of a manager who is worried about the productivity of their workers but rarely is it the case that a lot of downtime is caused by employees who aren’t doing their work. If someone is distracted in the workplace, such as by certain social media networks or websites, then you can use access controls to prevent them from using certain websites at certain times.

Noisy neighbors

If distraction is the culprit, then often it’s due to outside interferences, not personal problems. For instance, a workplace that doesn’t offer enough private space for individuals to concentrate on their work is likely to see a lot more interruptions. Similarly, interrupting the workflow with unnecessary phone calls and meetings can be a drain on productivity, too. Not only does it take up the time of the meeting itself, but people have a hard time “shifting back into gear” after a length interruption.

IT issues

We rely a lot more on technology nowadays, which also means that when it’s no longer accessible, it can cut us off from our ability to do work. Whether due to software or hardware, it’s important to be ready to respond to IT issues, with the help of outsourced IT support if necessary. The greater your IT scope, the more your team relies on it and the more time could be lost if you’re not invested in proactive maintenance.

Blackouts and other natural disasters

There’s not a lot you can do to foresee natural disasters. There is a lot you can do to prepare for them, however. For instance, many businesses will invest in a backup internet connection or allow employees to work remotely if the network of the office building goes down. Similarly, you may use a backup generator to supply the power needed to keep the work going in event of a breakout. Flexibility is crucial.

How to measure it

If you want to know the specific culprit behind the majority of your own downtime, then a little fact-finding is necessary. Time-tracking software* and apps can help you see how your team is using their time, from what websites and apps they’re using to any time they might be prevented from doing work. Then you can address the issue directly rather than having to guess what’s at the route of your time-wasting problems.

An assessment of the workplace is needed, and a strategy to cut down on the downtime plaguing your team is essential. Not only does it waste time and money, but it impacts the motivation and engagement of your team. Let downtime rule the roost and everyone suffers.