Your employees’ behaviour is crucial to the success of your small business because it affects everything from corporate culture to profitability. This means that you may need to inspire employees to change the way they do things and the way they think. Going about this the wrong way typically leads to people digging in their heels, which harms your relationship and their performance. Use these six techniques to instil the behaviours you need in your business.
1. Tell Your Employees What You Expect
In many cases, employees don’t change their behaviour because no one actually asked them to do so. Tell your employees what you want and expect from them, what behaviours you want to see, and what behaviours are inappropriate. Address these behaviours on posters, in documentation (staff handbooks and the like), and in person. Remember to focus on instilling these behaviours in your management team first and to include them in evaluations.
2. Show, Don’t Only Tell
Although telling your employees about the behaviours you wish to see is important, the best way to reinforce behavioural goals is to model these actions and attitudes. Excellent leaders lead by example; employees typically look to the people in charge for behavioural cues.
3. Deal with One Problem at a Time
Although employees may exhibit several problem behaviours, it’s crucial that you identify and separate them. Trying to change too many behaviours at the same time can leave an employee feeling overwhelmed and disgruntled. Prioritize the problems and focus on changing one thing at a time.
4. Provide Feedback and Coaching
Provide feedback often to correct problem behaviours as quickly as possible, but bear in mind that this top-down approach tends to be a one-way process. To help employees develop the skills they need to be successful in their long-term careers, couple feedback with effective coaching. Coaching is an ongoing process that requires collaboration and delivers personal and professional growth. Ensure that you and your management team know how to coach your staff; seek help form a professional business coach if you need to.
5. Motivate Without Nagging
Few people respond to nagging, and if they do, they usually put in the least possible amount of effort simply to make the nagging stop. Instead of repeatedly making requests and suggestions, learn to be a leader who motivates others. Get to know your employees by working with them and forming an emotional or rational bond with them. If you know what they want from life and their careers, you can better explain why you want them to make specific changes, and they’re more likely to be receptive.
6. Challenge Processes and Procedures
Although processes and procedures are important in every business, you may need to change the way you do things as an organization to change attitudes and behaviours. If you need to, rethink your policies to drive change. Ask for input from role players and evaluate the rules to ensure that you’ve chosen the most efficient way to do everything, from dealing with clients to buying stationery.
To learn more about effective leadership and coaching, speak to one of the experienced coaches at Business Owner Coaching. We can help you become an inspiring leader and effective coach, and we can assist you with formulating a tailored coaching plan for your business.