People are one of the most important assets of any business, if the employees are not performing well, neither is the business. It is important for the people at the top to make sure that those below them are happy and productive. Here are some tips on how to do so:

Make employees feel comfortable
Employees are fundamental to a business. The idea is to attract talented people, and to make them want to stay once you’ve got them. You will need to ensure that you are approachable enough for employees to come to you with any problems they might have.

It is also important to make sure they are comfortable with each other, and to manage any conflict amongst them. Introducing team-building exercises will provide them with a sense of community and improve their working environment.

Find a style of management that suits you
There is no one way to do things, and it is important to find a leadership style that doesn’t clash with your personality. For your employees to feel comfortable with you, you will have to feel comfortable yourself.

Make sure there is a balance between what you need and what the employees need. It’s important to be consistent in your approach, so once it’s established try not to go back on it.

Make employees feel motivated
Give them something to work toward. The last thing you want is for your employees to feel they are going nowhere in their position. If employees are not invested in the work they are doing, they will not do it to the best of their ability.

Offering the opportunity for raises and promotion ensures that your employees maintain a sense of ownership over their work, as it reflects their own future within your business structure. It is also a good idea to implement a performance review system.

By being formally assessed at regular intervals, your employees will be more likely to maintain a higher level of performance, as there will be a direct link from this performance to their own stability and prospects within the business.

Make employees feel welcome
It is crucial that employees feel that they are significant members of your staff. They need to understand the reasons they were hired and why they are an important part of the business. They need to be given a sense of importance and security, to know that they are wanted where they work.

Communication is key
In order for all of the above tips to be workable, you have to make sure that there are clear channels of communication between you and your employees. They will have to know upfront what they can expect from you, what kind of relationship you intend to have with them and what kind of future they can expect to have within the business.

They also need to be able to communicate easily, and effectively, with you. On top of this, employees need to be able to communicate and work well with each other.

The part-time University of Cape Town Effective People Management short course, presented completely online throughout South Africa, starts on 23 April 2012. Contact Anique on 021 447 7565 on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.getsmarter.co.za for more information.