Stay connected
Subscribe to our fleet blog and follow us on social media to receive all our fuel and energy industry insights.
"*" indicates required fields
Fleet
Managing small businesses workforce success: 4 tips to boost productivity
When overseeing a small business, ensuring team efficiency can be a challenge. Unlike big companies, smaller ones rely heavily on every employee. Each employee is instrumental in a specific business function, so if their productivity is low, the difference is impactful. Whether in the office or on the road, small businesses operating a fleet of vehicles need to recognize and maximize each worker’s potential to make the company’s success sustainable. Let’s dive into how to boost workforce productivity in small businesses.
1. Set clear goals and expectations so that everyone is approaching their work similarly
Strong leadership trickles down and sets the tone in the workplace, influencing everything from attitudes to work ethic. Leading by example and being transparent about unified goals creates a collaborative, productive environment. It’s important that all short-term and long-term goals are communicated clearly to all employees. The most effective businesses work as a cohesive team to achieve company goals. When this is done well, all team members understand the scope of their duties and responsibilities.
2. Employee management is essential in motivating and retaining talent
As employees are the foundation of your business, their motivation to work is what drives progress. A lack of motivation could stem from a variety of issues, both personal and professional. Managers are responsible for understanding their employees – getting to know them, learning how they best operate in the workplace, and nurturing their capabilities. As a team, employees get the opportunity to learn from each other, so take advantage of the potential skills each can discover from their peers.
3. Make sure your employees are aware and informed of the technology being used
Technology is an integral part of business operations. Productivity and efficiency depend on how well your employees can manage and operate the tools needed to do their jobs. Consider implementing periodic refreshers, where employees get the chance to learn new ways of optimizing their roles, and gauge their performance from time to time to evaluate where improvements can be made.
4. Instill trust and confidence in your employees by recognizing their strengths and delegating effectively
Small businesses require a deeper level of trust between managers and employees – trust to meet performance expectations and trust to be an effective leader and employee advocate. Trusting your employees involves assigning them responsibilities that align with their individual strengths and capabilities. Strategically delegating tasks can serve to empower employees by recognizing their strengths and showing your trust in them and celebrating their unique skills. Delegation also serves to lighten the workload and instill them with confidence.
Confidence is critical in the workplace. An Indeed study revealed that 98% of surveyed workers said they perform better when they feel confident. Moreover, 96% said they were likely to stay with a company where they felt confident in their performance.
Ultimately, creating a work environment where your employees feel valued and supported is the best method to boost morale and encourage employee engagement and loyalty. Promoting open communication, training, and trust is a guaranteed way to increase the likelihood of productivity and create sustainable growth for any small business.
Learn more on how to better manage your small business:
WEX is a leading, global fintech solutions provider, simplifying payments and back-end business processes in the fleet management, benefits management, and corporate payments areas. To learn more, please visit the company’s About WEX page.