Do you often feel your employees are not giving their 100% to the work? Do you think they have lost the spark you once saw in them while interviewing them? If yes, it is time for some harsh reality check. Sometimes, when the performance of many employees dwindles to bottom levels and turnover rates skyrocket, it is time to introspect. Many times, it is the organization’s destructive behaviour that chokes employees’ growth. If your organization follows any of the practices mentioned below, it is time to replace them with employee-friendly methods.
Excessive control: Do you insist that your employees ask for approval for even minor tasks? If yes, then there are possibilities of you exercising extreme control. The need for control signifies a lack of trust in employees. This bottleneck mentality can stifle progress and innovation. The key is to give optimum autonomy to team workers so that they take full responsibility for their work.
Improper work delegation: Do you REALLY delegate work to employees or just use them as glorified substitutes? Employees who are only trusted with menial tasks might feel unvalued and restricted. Allow your employees to make important decisions and take risks on the organization’s behalf.
Vague expectations: If your employees are uncertain about their roles, the reason is that the organization has not defined them well for the position. It is important to communicate expectations and goals clearly with the employees. Vague communication can leave them adrift, snatching success and job satisfaction further away. So, pull back the curtains of confusion and provide your employees with a clear road map.
Feedback vacuum: Constructive feedback gives employees opportunities to grow. Therefore, lack of feedback conveys the organization’s indifference towards employees’ contributions and achievements. Praising employees for their good work and giving constructive feedback to help them realize their areas of improvement is crucial to help them achieve their full potential.
Sabotaging focus: In many organizations, seniors have a habit of calling employees or setting up meetings on their whims. This undermines employees’ focus and interrupts the workflow. As a result, employees’ ability to produce high-quality work diminishes over time. If you wish to see their output soar, give them an uninterrupted time when they are working on an important project or have a task at hand.
Ignoring employee needs: It is not just the skillset but also the resources that contribute to a project’s success. Some organizations do not prioritize giving employees access to advanced technology, the latest software, or other resources. This puts a lot of pressure on the employees in the competitive era. To address this, it is important to have meaningful conversations with the employees, identify the gaps obstructing their success and equip them with the necessary tools.
Outdated policies: In the era of hybrid workspace, if an organization is unwilling to allow employees to work from home in a dire situation, the employee would not think twice before finding a new job. Slashing outdated policies, organizations must match steps with changing trends to ensure that their employees can achieve work-life balance.
Questioning sick leaves: Some organizations have a policy of submitting a doctor’s certificate for sick leave approval. This conveys that the organization doubts employees’ integrity. Such policies hardly help in fostering a positive work environment.
Cost-cutting at any cost: It is equally important to invest in employees’ skill sets as much as in resources or business. Organizations that slash training budgets for cost-cutting stifle innovation and obstruct the efficiency of their talented employees.
