Keeping Workers Focused

The best way to guarantee effective work is by striking a partnership with your workers and regularly checking their progress.

Set Goals

Being clear about your intentions lets employees know what you expect.

"The most effective way is setting goals on the front end," says Jennifer Carlson, division director of Robert Half Management Resources (RHMR).

An even better idea is to involve employees in the goal-setting process.

"The manager should establish outcomes and let the employees set the goals," notes Carlson. "They need to understand the big picture."

Managers also ought to plan regular check-ins to track employees' progress.

"Having an open-door policy is huge," says Carlson. "They know that if they have problems they can come right to you. This can help stop a small error from snowballing into a huge problem."

Documentation

Another strategy is to have workers create regular status reports. RHMR workers complete a report that includes three sections:

Accomplishments – Employees list what they've accomplished on the project.

What I'm doing next – Helps managers understand what employees perceive as next logical steps.

"It's documented and is a way to communicate concerns," says Carlson.

Finally, the level an employee is working at is also important to keep in mind. For instance, a team lead is going to require a different level of management than a line worker.

To stay on course, keep an open line of communication with your workers. This allows you to get the performance you want with the outcomes you need.

Robert Elsenpeter is a freelance writer from Blaine.