How Do You Measure the Level of Production from Employees?
Depending on the type of business you own, measuring the production level of an employee can be challenging. If you are unable to measure production, your bottom line may be suffering. Even if your company is doing well, you may be leaving money on the table.
One of the greatest mistakes employers make is expecting employees to deliver great results doing a job they have not been adequately trained for. If you want peak performance, you have to make sure employees have the tools needed to perform at peak! Once an employee is properly trained, communication is key. Clearly communicate your expectations to your employees. Discuss the importance of meeting deadlines and get updates from the employee frequently. Model the behavior you want to see and reassure the employee that you are there to help them be successful. After all, if they succeed, so does your bottom line.
Be careful not to micromanage. Micromanaging tends to deflate employee morale and decreases productivity. When employees are micromanaged, they feel as if they are not trusted and that you are not confident they are capable of doing their job. It creates a stressful atmosphere that may prove to be counterproductive.
After your expectations have been discussed, assess the employees work habits. Ask yourself, is the employee completing task in a timely fashion? Are they meeting goals? Are you getting results? If your bottom line is not where you want it to be, you may have to adjust and sometimes, readjust to ensure you get your desired results. If it is, be sure and thank the employee for a job well done. Get their buy-in on how they might further improve the task to further increase production.
When good, old-fashioned managing falls short, there are systems that allow employers to monitor employees electronically. These systems will give you a greater look into the work life of your employee. If your employees feel as if their privacy is being invaded, you might explain that these systems are not to police them, but a useful tool to track and improve job performance and the overall productivity of the company.
Monitoring systems include: key stroke, monitors data entry, speed and accuracy; video surveillance, allows you to see what employees are doing; phone tracking and tapping devices, monitors phone calls and voicemail; active badges, allows you to know where employees are at all times. These are just a few of the systems available. There are pros and cons for both employees and employers.
Whether you use traditional measuring or more aggressive tracking to keep an eye on employee production, make sure you keep a watchful eye on your bottom line. It’s the best way to measure productivity!
10 / 09 / 2015