Today’s staffing business environment is very different from what it was, and with new technology, it is changing at a much faster pace. As a result, staffing companies are growing and becoming profitable more quickly than ever before, making the competition extremely fierce. Developing a sustainability program is the first step to developing and maintaining your competitive edge. It is critical to initiate performance management solutions that create value for your customers, company and stakeholders for your business to thrive.
The focus for continuous improvement
By creating a sustainable culture of continuous improvement — one that fosters a mindset of continuous improvement — you set a solid foundation for adapting to change. A key component to any sustainability program is a performance management system that taps into your team’s institutional knowledge and creativity and sets into play behavioral routines where employees come to the table with solutions.
Performance management empowers employees and fosters a culture where employees think like owners. When employees feel like owners, their productivity improves, waste declines and management does not need to continuously monitor. Implementing a performance management system requires dedication, a desire to improve and buy-in and input from all levels.
Five crucial steps for performance management success
- Measure: What gets measured gets done.
- Empower: Empower employees to solve problems instead of covering them up.
- Publish: Keep the information in front of your employees to see positive change.
- Communicate: Quick and frequent communication is essential for continuous improvement.
- Celebrate: Celebrate the wins to keep employees engaged and passionate.
For your staffing company to thrive, it is critical to initiate programs that create value for your customers, company and stakeholders.
Measure and empower
Performance data provides key indicators to help pinpoint when and where there is a problem, which ultimately translates to profitability. Empowering employees allows them to solve their problems and not just cover them up with a workaround. Engaged employees set the stage for change.
Visual reinforcement
If your employees can’t see the big picture, it is challenging to make meaningful changes that will positively impact them. With a performance management system, visual boards are the ideal solution in that they communicate goals to people at all levels. At the same time, there is still time to make a difference, help instill process discipline and keep everyone informed.
Communicate and celebrate
Timely communication is critical when it comes to sustainability. With a quick daily meeting, team members can address issues in real time, initiating and expediting the root cause analysis process. To keep employees engaged and passionate about what they do, celebrate the wins through employee appreciation and peer recognition. The little things count, like small spot awards — Starbucks gift cards or an extra couple of hours in paid time off can make all the difference.
If your employees can’t see the big picture, it is challenging to make meaningful changes that will positively impact them.
Conclusion
Performance management creates fundamental change to your operations, lasting, sustainable and delivered through tested and proven project management methodologies.
Written by Cindy Hannafey. Originally published by the Staffing Stream.
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