3 Top Tips For SME Managers
Owning your own business means you have to be on the ball 24/7. You’ve got to keep your eye on the bottom line, know the ins and outs of your finances, as well as ensure your product or service is always of the highest quality. But that’s not all you have to think about. You’re also managing a team, no matter how small. You’re not just the boss, you’re the manager and you need to ensure your team is productive and working well.
But how do you do that? Well, here are three tips to get you started.
1. Give Feedback When It’s Needed
Constructive criticism is important when you’re managing a team. If any of your staff members are making mistakes, you need to point it out. And you can’t just yell at them and expect them to do better next time. You have to sit them down and explain where they went wrong, ask them how it happened and come up with a solution together ensuring it never happens again.
But you shouldn’t only give negative feedback. When one of your employees is doing exceptionally well, you need to point that out as well. Recognise the successes of your staff and they will continue wanting to improve.
2. Motivate Your Team
You don’t want employees who stroll into work at 9am and rush out at 5pm. You want people who make sure their deadlines are met and their work is always of a high standard. You want someone who goes the extra mile to ensure your business is doing well. You want teams who work well together and interact in a respectful and professional manner. Which is why you need to motivate your staff.
There are many ways to do so. You could have rewards for those who exceed their monthly targets or close new deals. But you don’t have to go that far. You can also do little things to show your employees you appreciate them (like buy pizzas for lunch occasionally) and they’ll naturally want to please you. By creating an environment where people actually want to work, they’ll want to exceed expectations.
3. Remember They’re Human Beings
At the end of the day, profit is what you’re working towards. Profits increase when the office is run efficiently and your staff are productive. But you have to remember they are people first and your employees second. They have lives outside of work and they have feelings. So, think before you act. If you’re angry about something, don’t shout at them in front of their peers. Rather, give yourself a moment to calm down, take them aside and discuss the issues with them. Treat your staff well and they will work harder for you in return.
Managing your employees is a big part of owning your own business. Your staff play a big role in whether your business succeeds or fails.
The content in this article was provided by WesBank – a leading Vehicle and Asset Finance provider and part of one of the largest financial services groups in Africa. WesBank is a division of FirstRand Bank Limited.
For more information, contact:
Website: https://www.wesbank.co.za/wesbankcoza/
Tel: 0861 922 677
Email: fcs@wesbank.co.za
