As your business develops, it’s natural for the size of your team to grow as well. This means that you can delegate more tasks and responsibilities to different staff members in their respective departments.

However, this can also mean you’re facing an increasing number of challenges in staff management.

Perhaps you’re resolving more than one conflict between employees, or perhaps some of your staff are unmotivated and underperforming in their roles. When you pile all these issues together, it can make it more difficult to see the larger picture and address the root causes of these problems.

If you’re not equipped with the right skills or tools in effective staff management, it can impact the overall efficiency and performance of your organisation, making it more difficult to run your business. It’s important to understand the underlying problems in managing your staff to help you cultivate a healthy and productive workplace.

Why staff management can be challenging

Part of understanding the root causes of your staff management problems is to accept that you have particular management beliefs and a communication style that has flaws in it. 

Having this awareness is important because it will help you see how these flaws are affecting the way you’re managing your staff. This will also help you improve as a leader by replacing these bad habits with more effective and positive ones.

Potential causes for staff management issues that you can alleviate with a better leadership style include:

• Micromanagement – Business leaders or managers can often micromanage to feel the need to be in control, which can stem from fear of failure. Some leaders might justify this behaviour in the name of achieving great results, but this erodes trust and loyalty in your staff, which can make it more difficult to form relationships with them and manage them effectively.
• Over-responsibility – Overly responsible managers coddle their junior staff by solving problems for them, reversing delegated tasks or even avoiding uncomfortable accountability discussions about a staff member’s performance. Over-responsibility can stem from a desire to feel needed and “busy”, but this can stifle not only a junior staff’s growth but also a manager’s development as a leader.
• Underperformance –  On the other end of the spectrum, some managers can be considered “tire kickers” who heavily rely on their junior staff to do tasks outside the scope of their work. This can demoralise junior staff members and result in their own underperformance if the managers are left unchecked. 
• Miscommunications – Business leaders and managers must be effective communicators to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications with their staff members. Poor communication can lead to errors in output or even conflicts among employees.

Identifying which of these issues are impacting your organisation can help you implement the right strategies in improving staff management so that you can create a healthy workplace, boost productivity and increase employee retention.

5 tips on overcoming staff management challenges

We’ve shortlisted five areas that you need to focus on to help you overcome the staff management challenges you’re facing and to optimise the performance of your team while improving your relationship with them.

1. Communication 

Effective communication is crucial in staff management and it is one of the soft skills necessary for a business leader. This isn’t necessarily just about being eloquent, good communication also involves active listening, empathy and engaging your staff in sharing their thoughts and opinions.

Your workplace will inevitably have language and cultural differences if you promote a diverse and inclusive team, so it’s especially important to be culturally sensitive and open-minded to foster strong bonds and prevent conflicts.

Communicating effectively can help you build strong relationships with your team members and ensure that they understand their tasks and the goals they must achieve. 

2. Leadership

Leadership is a key component of staff management. A good leader sets the tone for the workplace, inspires and motivates staff and helps them achieve their goals. 

You must develop strong interpersonal skills so that you can cultivate professional relationships with your team members, which can help you stay attuned to their work progress and their overall journey in the organisation. It’s important for you to be strategic in empowering your staff so that you can increase their efficiency while empowering them in their autonomy and creativity in their tasks.

As a leader, you must also know how to manage conflict and affect change in the workplace. This will ensure that you can support your team during difficult situations and encourage them to continue working seamlessly in times of change.

3. Goal-setting

Setting clear goals and expectations is essential in staff management. Goals provide direction and motivation and help staff understand what’s expected of them. 

Goal-setting allows you to develop strategies and action plans in enabling you and your staff to achieve your objectives. To set and achieve your objectives effectively, you must develop specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.) goals. 

Involving your staff in the goal-setting process and providing regular feedback on progress also ensures that you’re both on the same page when it comes to the mid and long-term plans for the organisation.

4. Feedback

Feedback is an essential part of staff management. It helps staff understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and it also shows that you care about their development. 

It’s important to train managers in providing constructive feedback to their respective teams so that junior staff are encouraged to improve and motivated to learn more in their respective roles.

When giving feedback, it’s important to be specific, actionable, and timely. Make sure to also provide examples and suggestions for improvement. In return, you must listen actively and show appreciation when receiving feedback.

5. Training and development

Investing in the training and development of your staff is critical in staff management. It helps staff develop new skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends. Investing in your staff’s training and development not only benefits your employees but also your entire organisation. 

To create a successful training and development plan, you should identify staff development needs, set clear objectives, and provide opportunities for staff to practise new skills. You should also provide regular feedback and support throughout the process.

Managing staff is a challenging but essential task for any business owner or manager. By improving your communication, leadership, goal setting, feedback and training and development skills, you can create a positive and productive workplace culture. 

Remember to involve staff in the process, listen to their feedback, and show appreciation for their contributions. With the right approach, you can overcome the challenges of staff management and create a successful and sustainable business.

We can help you in overcoming the staff management challenges you’re facing. Contact us and we will develop strategies you can implement.