The evolution of technology has led today’s workforce into an era based solely in electronic communication, where we push aside our human desires to communicate in-person for the instant gratification of a text. But how much information gets lost with the insta-age? How many times are you bombarded with so many emails, texts, snapchats, and so forth, do a few (or even a handful) of your tasks and priorities become forgotten? This is a VITAL issue facing today’s workforce, which leads us to the importance of staying connected with your team members – especially those in the field.
As Human Resources Manager here at busybusy, I help our management team oversee a talented team of tech, sales, marketing and customer service people, all with very different roles to play, and a large majority of which are based around the country. However diverse their tasks, there are three key areas we strive to infuse into our organization in a cohesive and recurring manor: open and effective lines of communication, manageable record-keeping systems, and constant motivation.
Every CEO in history has searched for the “secret sauce” to great communication within their company, without which they will inevitably sink. The age of open-door policies and the collapse of traditional hierarchical structures now allow the newbie to have as respected a voice as the director, and the entry level rep to start a dialogue with the CEO. A crucial aspect of business today is not only the allowance of unhindered communication, but the encouragement of it! This can NOT be overstated, especially with increasing numbers of team members away from offices, working remotely or in the field. Gone are the days of sweeping your bitter feelings under the rug – GO tell your boss what it is that you need, and tell your coworkers to do the same! Numerous studies have shown that in feeling like they can talk to their manager about concerns – and be HEARD – employee job satisfaction increases exponentially. And we all know that happy team members are productive team members.
Hand-in-hand with open communication is the importance of record keeping. Shhh – don’t say it, don’t even THINK it….. paperwork! No one likes paperwork, especially that which seems as unnecessary as tracking the endless communication with your team members, when you have more important things – like that big sales contract – looming. But as more people transition to the remote workforce, it becomes harder to track productivity, harder to monitor legality, and harder to maintain consistent culture. This industry shift emphasizes the growing importance of task management and communications SYSTEMS. These systems allow for remote collaboration on projects and concise communication that is relative to the job at hand, rather than sifting through pages of emails or (don’t say it!) mounds of paper! Great systems have come into play for project tracking, systems like busybusy, where all time entries, job notes, and progress pictures relate directly to the project. These systems allow for all communication to be kept in a central location, accessible by every general, sub, and worker that needs it. This surge in organizational efficiency can, if used correctly, drastically improve productivity. Not to mention, it makes everyone’s job easier when information is readily available.
So, open communication creates more productive team members… systematic record keeping increases productivity… are we seeing a theme? You must be as PRODUCTIVE as possible to stay afloat in today’s aggressively competitive markets! Which is why there is a third and final element to creating and maintaining this thriving business of yours – motivation. People are intrinsically motivated when they understand the WHY behind your business, and are continuing to question their purpose and their value to your company. The WHY (as coined by the great Simon Sinek) is at the heart of your company – and your team needs to understand and be motivated by your vision in order to help it come to fruition. Remote and field workers are notorious for losing motivation, as they are not constantly immersed in the culture on a day-to-day basis. It is up to you to reiterate the WE, and show your team members (in and out of the office) how valued they are. The feeling of value is a great motivator, inspiring team members to work harder and give their loyalty to their company because they have a personal investment in its success. Value can be shown multiple ways, from offering benefits that will take care of your team members to exciting perks like sponsored wellness programs and trips. The more time you spend showing your team members how much they mean to you, the more incentivized they will be to not only continue working with you, but working hard.
This all can seem like a daunting and time-consuming task (or bunch of tasks). It is difficult to focus on staying connected with your team when often times, profit margins seem the more necessary focal point. But the efficiency of technology has created a downward spiral in human communication, and we must try ever harder to open and encourage those connections. Notice how there was no mention of “employees” here? It’s all about your TEAM. Nix the micro-managing and spend time inspiring your team, talking with them and motivating them, because when your team feels connected to your cause and inspired by your vision, they will work hard and stand by your side to see it become a reality.
