Back office staff are usually known for feeling unappreciated or overlooked, but as an employer there are various ways in which you can boost their morale and in turn increase their productivity.
Initially, it is forgiveable that you will focus all of your attention and encouragement on your sales team, as this is where the company’s income is mainly generated, and also because their targets are very clear and, when met, can easily be rewarded with extra earnings and other incentives.
However it is much more complicated with your back office staff; the lines are much less determined, making it more difficult to set the standards for achievement. For example, if an assistant manages to complete a report for you three days before a deadline, is it deemed that they are simply fulfilling their obligations, or seen as excelling and deserving of a bonus?
It’s worth remembering that your company relies heavily upon ‘behind the scenes’ personnel, who provide vital support and administration. By setting up charters to track their progress, you will be able to see proficiency levels in all areas of the business. When someone hits a target it will be recorded and, therefore, acknowledged. This will help instil a sense of morale within your back-office staff and lead to increased productivity.
The first step is to ensure that both you and they fully understand the specifics of their job role, and how it contributes to the overall success of the company.
Always be sure to regularly catch up with your staff on a one-to-one basis. This is a great way of cementing a constructive working relationship. Also, if you aren’t doing already, weekly team meetings are also a highly effective method of ensuring that the group works harmoniously and minimalises confusion within the office.
Always be sure to try and set specific targets, if not weekly then monthly, as without the constant setting of goals for employees, you may find that time is being wasted on the wrong activities. Similarly, you may discover areas of excellence and can introduce ways of enhancing output.
Building a culture in which employees are engaged and performing to maximum levels, requires strong management skills and consistently providing good-quality, accurate feedback.
Give your staff a reason to produce excellent results for your business. Always try hard to encourage them to exceed at their job, and they will be willing to go above and beyond the call of the duty. Do this by having an effective and well-thought out system of rewards. There has to be an incentive to strive and hit targets, so the enticement of a bonus is important.
