Recruitment

Recruitment: Six key elements in effectively managing staff

James Price, JPA*, 23/07/2021

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A HIGH-PERFORMING team is any agribusiness’s ‘nirvana’.

A high-performing team is one where both the individuals and the team as a whole are performing to their optimum potential; is aligned and attuned to your vision for where you want to take the business; and drives the key tasks and aspects of the business to achieve both its short and long-term objectives.

Here are six key elements that business managers, owners or leaders need to think about as they go about their day-to-day activities, in order to positively manage staff and help develop them into a high-performing team.

We’ve distilled that information into the following ‘cheat sheet’.

Objective and outcome

Be clear about your objective upfront and share it with the individual team members who will drive its delivery.

Example: You’ve had some slow payers, delinquent debts, complaints about invoices, etc. so you want to establish a new billing and debtor management process. First decide: what’s the objective and outcome you want to achieve? What will success look like? Get staff input on details such as payment terms, if needed. Document the new process and share with your team.

Strengths and weaknesses

Ensure weaknesses are acknowledged and mitigated in any team you put together to complete a task.

Example: Your operations manager ‘Jane’ has a good sense of which clients will accept a change in payment terms or invoice processing, but lacks understanding of the administrative detail that goes into drafting a new credit application for new customers. Acknowledge this directly with Jane and indicate that, because she hasn’t got the strength in that area, you’ve asked an administrator to assist her.

Risks

Work with your team to identify risks and develop pre-emptive strategies.

Example: A risk in the new billing system is that payments may go astray because your bank account details will change and customers will be confused about what account to use, negatively impacting cash flow. Manage and mitigate against these risks by discussing them with your team, and asking for their input on how to overcome potential issues..

Expectations

Ensure everyone is clear about your expectations for the job to be done, and who is to do it.

Example: Make clear who has the lead role, and who is in support: “Jane, as operations manager I expect you to deliver this new debtor management and invoicing process. It’s your responsibility because ultimately you’re responsible for the overall performance of this business line. “Bob, you have a practical understanding of our financial and accounts system. Your role is to ensure the process runs smoothly and the detail is delivered as part of this new debtor management system.”

Question and check

Help your team achieve the outcomes you’ve articulated by questioning and checking their progress.

Example: The new debtor management system includes a number of phases with timing milestones established. Use those milestones as checkpoints to query and check progress. How often you check in will depend on the risks and issues, strengths and weaknesses of your team. But remember, you’ve got a responsibility as well, so feel comfortable objectively questioning progress so you can assist in avoiding any log jams. (But resist the temptation to ‘do it yourself’)

Monitor and feedback

Once the outcome is delivered, or starts to be delivered, don’t leave it too late to monitor the implementation and provide feedback.

Example: Feedback should be two-way: “Bob, I’m really happy with the result. We’ve had our first month on the new system and it seems to be working in a practical, commercial way. I know you’ve had a few hiccups, but are you happy with how it’s going?” “Jane, our existing clients seem to be responding well to our new invoicing system. Have you heard of any issues with new clients and the credit application?”

These six elements of staff management are complemented by:

  • a robust recruitment process
  • structured staff performance reviews
  • a well-planned system of feedback, reward and recognition.

 

* About the author:

James Price from JPA Business has more than 30 years’ experience in providing strategic, commercial and financial advice to Australian and international business clients. His blogs provide business advice for aspiring and current small to mid-sized business owners, operators and managers. For more staff management information, advice and tools visit JPA’s website. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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