When it comes to ensuring the continued success of a business, few things are more important than having a productive managerial staff. After all, the company’s rate of progress will be directly influenced by the work ethic and performance of its employees, especially those with the responsibility of making sure things get done right. Less than ideal productivity can be attributed to a number of operational problems, including sloppy scheduling, inefficiencies in the work process, or even a poor mindset. With that said, here are four resources any business can use to improve the proficiency and productivity of its administrative workforce:
1. Project Management Interfaces
When board meetings and separate emails aren’t working out, consider using a centralized project management and collaboration interface like BaseCamp. If you’re not comfortable having your communications and projects stored and sent over the cloud, there are also a number of alternatives, many of which come in the form of software that can be ran locally on your company network.
2. Business Improvement Training
Once you have a more efficient means of sending assignments, touching base with employees, and monitoring progress, why not enroll your staff in business improvement classes? The Six Sigma yellow belt training course is a perfect example of a certification that can help your managers and supervisors develop a stronger understanding of how to optimize business processes. Six Sigma yellow belt training is a process improvement technique that was designed by an engineer and was later made part of the main operational strategy at General Electric due to its proven efficacy.
3. Specialized Learning Courses
Another great way to start educating and enhancing your most crucial staff members is to share relevant courses and materials with them on a weekly basis. Sites like Lynda.com and EdX provide access to an abundance of edifying material that will better equip your team members to be the best administrators they can be. With so many well-made courses already out there, there’s no need to waste time, money, or effort re-inventing the wheel.
4. Business-Oriented Blogs
As you can tell by reading this short list of useful tips, blogs are loaded with great information and actionable advice. Be sure to pick at least 2 or 3 blog posts to share with your employees each week. Some companies even make it a point to review some of their favorite blog posts on specific subjects during brainstorming sessions to look for ways the tips can be applied to the unique scenario they’re currently dealing with. If you don’t know which blog to start with, check out some lists of the top blogs for businesses and entrepreneurs.
Become a Resource for Your Employees
Finally, while pushing your employees to become better educated in matters related to process management is the first step you should take towards a higher operating efficiency, it is also worthwhile to invest some time into your own edification. By following the tips above in your own work regimen, you can become a go-to resource for your staff, as you’ll be better equipped to help them tackle issues.