Effective Strategies for Managing People in a Work Setting: Insights and Hacks

Managing people in a work setting can often feel like a challenging endeavor. Over the past 15 years, I have managed employees in an IT setting, handling teams of around 10 individuals. However, the dynamic has shifted after 2017 when I took the leap and started managing a family business, specifically a garments business in a mid-sized town. The staff in my current position are typically less educated and most have not completed their 10th standard of education. Despite these challenges, my primary goal remains to increase the sales of the store.

Key Lessons and Strategies for Managing Unskilled Staff

After conducting a thorough analysis of why sales were dipping, I realized that the approach was fundamentally different when managing unskilled staff as compared to my previous experience with IT employees. Here are some of the key lessons and strategies that have been effective:

1. Tailored One-on-One Training

For unskilled staff, training is essential and requires detailed, step-by-step instructions. A more hands-on approach ensures that the objectives are not deviated from. My experience has shown that interacting with my staff as equals has proven to be more effective. I often train staff in real-time, ensuring that each step is understood and executed correctly.

2. Real-Time Incentives and Feedback

Unskilled staff often look for immediate rewards. Providing daily incentives for a job well done and regular feedback helps in keeping their motivation high. It's essential to emphasize the financial benefits of their efforts on the same day, rather than setting long-term or quarterly targets that can be daunting for them to envisage and achieve.

3. Building a Strong Team

While challenges are inevitable, having a strong and cohesive team can make a significant difference. I strongly believe that a team with a shared vision can work wonders for growth. If you face similar challenges, it's worth exploring these approaches, as they have shown promising results in my own business.

New Approaches in Management: Dashboard Management

The corporate world is increasingly adopting dashboard management as a more efficient and less stressful method of managing teams. Originally inspired by the concept in Oracle, this system offers a data-driven, WAP-based interface that significantly reduces the need for frequent communication between managers and staff.

Key Features of Dashboard Management

Minimized Face-to-Face Interactions: Tasks are assigned on a server, and staff report via spreadsheets. This reduces the need for managers to constantly interact with employees. Data-Driven Reporting: Multiple parameters are tracked, and workers report on a software interface. This provides a clear and transparent way to monitor progress. Formal PEPTALKS and Reviews: Managers provide brief pep talks, and annual appraisals, terminations, and promotions are based solely on the information captured in the dashboard.

This system has brought about a significant level of peace and serenity in our organization, negating the need for shouting or harsh criticism. Approaches like these are becoming more common, and their effectiveness is evident in the long-term success of businesses that adopt them.

If you are managing a team and are looking for innovative ways to improve efficiency and employee satisfaction, it might be worth exploring the concept of dashboard management. It's not just a new idea; it's a smart solution for modern workplaces.

Shiva Rathi Group of Companies