Why Resilient Workforce Critical to Employers

Introduction

Why is a resilient workforce critical to employers?

Today's workforce must be resilient

Resilience is a critical trait that enables individuals to cope with challenges and bounce back from adversity. In the workplace, resilience is more important than ever, particularly in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business environment.

Employers must ensure that their workforce is resilient if they want to remain competitive and thrive in the face of ongoing challenges.

Reasons Today’s Workforce Must be Resilient – for their Employers’ Sakes

There are several obvious reasons why resilience is critical for a workforce.

Firstly, resilient employees are better equipped to manage stress and pressure. They are less likely to become overwhelmed by setbacks or challenges and can maintain a positive attitude even in difficult circumstances. This not only benefits the individual but also the organization, as it leads to better morale, improved productivity, and reduced turnover.

Secondly, resilient employees are better able to adapt to change. In today’s business world, change is constant, and organizations must be able to adapt quickly to remain competitive. Resilient employees can navigate change more easily, embracing new technologies, processes, and ways of working. This helps to ensure that the organization remains agile and responsive, able to pivot quickly in response to new opportunities or challenges.

Third, resilient employees are more innovative. They are not afraid to take risks or try new things, even if they may fail. They are comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity and are not afraid to challenge the status quo. This is particularly important in industries such as technology and innovation, where organizations need to continually push boundaries and take risks to remain competitive.

Fourth, resilient employees are better able to collaborate and work as a team. They are more open to feedback and are less likely to become defensive or take things personally. This creates a more positive and productive workplace culture, where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to work together towards shared goals.

Fifth, resilient employees are better equipped to cope with the inevitable setbacks and failures that occur in any workplace. They are able to learn from their mistakes and use this knowledge to improve their performance in the future. This creates a culture of continuous improvement, where employees are constantly striving to learn and grow.

4 Ways Employers Ensure Their Workforce Is Resilient

All right, we accept that a resilient workforce critical to employers in today’s challenging business environment. But how can employers ensure that their workforce is resilient?

4 Paths to Workforce Resilience

Employers must work to ensure today's workforce is resilient

We identified 4 steps employers should take if they want to ensure an adequate supply of  high-performing employees because resilient workforce critical to employers:

1. They need to create a supportive and positive workplace culture

This includes promoting work-life balance, providing opportunities for training and development, and fostering open communication and collaboration. It also means recognizing and rewarding employees who demonstrate resilience, as this helps to reinforce the importance of this trait.

2. Employers need to provide employees with the tools and resources they need

That helps employees to cope with stress and pressure. This includes access to mental health resources, such as employee assistance programs or counseling services, as well as training on stress management techniques, such as mindfulness or meditation.

3. Companies should encourage employees to take breaks and prioritize self-care

This can include providing opportunities for exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation, as well as promoting the importance of taking time off and disconnecting from work.

4. Employers should foster a culture of continuous learning and development

This includes providing opportunities for training and upskilling, as well as encouraging employees to take risks and try new things. By doing so, employers can help employees to develop the confidence and resilience they need to thrive in the face of ongoing challenges.

In Conclusion

word resilience

The critical importance of resilience in the workplace cannot be overstated. Resilient employees are better equipped to manage stress, adapt to change, innovate, collaborate, and learn from setbacks and failures.

So, companies must create a supportive and positive workplace culture, providing employees with the tools and resources they need to cope with stress and pressure, prioritizing self-care, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.  That is how employers can ensure that today’s workforce must be resilient and well-positioned to succeed in today’s ever-changing business environment.

Need Assistance Hiring Resilient Workers

Flexicrew supports employers who recognize today's workforce must be resilient

Flexicrew recognizes that a resilient workforce critical to employers.  If you need some assistance in recruiting and hiring more resilient workers in this tight labor market, contact Flexicrew Today.

Mentoring Builds Better Leaders

Leadership Question

What would you say if I told you mentoring builds better leaders?  It’s been researched and proven that mentoring others makes you a better leader.

When mentors share their expertise and operational knowledge with other employees (including those they do not manage), it can build their credibility within their company.

Why?

A leader’s willingness to build up employees shows confidence in the leader’s own competence and indicates strong leadership. It also builds trust because they support the success of their subordinate employees.

Mentoring Builds Better Leaders

Become a better leader

If you’re in a leadership role, you didn’t arrive at that level on your own. Someone at some point mentored you and helped shape you into the people manager you have become. Having a mentor can make all the difference when it comes to being an effective leader. Being a mentor helps pay forward the help you’ve been given and the career’s worth of knowledge you’ve accumulated.

Mentoring others makes you a better leader because it helps you:

  • Teach a wider range of skills
  • Motivate new leaders
  • Keeps you grounded

Mentoring builds better leaders

Mentoring Teaches More than the Obvious

But, coaching an up and coming leader requires more than basic skills. Teaching someone to do a task in and of itself is a great thing to do. Passing on traditions and skills has been a form of teaching for generations. Mentoring someone in leadership surpasses practical skills and includes esoteric skills that go beyond the technical aspects of a trade. Mentoring teaches the psychological and inter-personal skills that make great leaders.  Another reason why mentoring builds better leaders.

Mentoring Motives New Leaders

Mentoring leadership builds motivation quickly

 Part of the role of leadership is motivating others. Getting them excited about the possibilities and feeling confident about what they can accomplish. Mentoring new leaders is the epitome of motivating. Sure, you’ll have to cover the challenges of leadership- which are many, but overall you can help motivate a new leader to be their best. This in turn, motivates you and helps remind you of the benefits of being a leader as well.

Mentoring Keeps Leaders Grounded Also

leadership inspires

 Being in leadership should be humbling. Serving others is what leadership is all about. Being a leader has perks and advantages, but it also has tough realities those who aren’t in leadership don’t have to face. Mentoring others keeps you grounded and reminds you that leadership is an important responsibility and that the well-being of those you lead is in a leader’s hands.

Mentoring is a wonderful way to sharpen your leadership skills and transform you as a leader. Instructing up-and-coming leaders the nuances of their roles can help them become better leaders in a shorter amount of time. Remember those who taught you along the way and be sure to pay it forward to the people you are fortunate enough to impact. Your teaching time can be learning time for you too because your mentee will surely have something new to teach you as well. Celebrate your mentees and help them achieve their best by mentoring them and pouring into their futures.

Summing Up

Mentoring builds better leaders

Mentoring builds better leaders because, put simply, it brings the best out of the people you lead. Great leaders who mentor inspire their team members to go beyond what they might do on their own.  Mentoring generates confidence, inspires trust and enhances team development. A big part of your own leadership development is determining what sort of a leader you want to be and mentoring other up-and-coming employees.

7 Simple Ways Managers Can Offer Employees Appreciation

Research indicates most employees lack a feeling of appreciation or acknowledgement.  HR personnel, executive coaches and trainers hear that frequently from employees. So what is necessary to change that phenomenon?Employee Appreciation

Here are seven easy techniques to show employees appreciation and help them feel their work is valued.

1. Thank Them

A simple way to give workers recognition is to thank them verbally for their hard work or  for their performance above expectations. A simple word of encouragement can boost morale and it only takes about 15 seconds.  When you take time to write employees a hand-written note, it makes a big impression and is important to them.

2. Hand Out Small Rewards

You could give out $10 gift cards to supervisors that they could provide to their team members when they excel. Frankly, it may be only a simple gift card and it may only be for $10, but the perceived value is much higher.

3. Provide an Extracurricular Opportunity

When a worker performs at a very high level, give them an opportunity as a token of your appreciation. Express your appreciation for their high-level performance  and show your appreciation by sending them to a training program they wanted or allow them to attend an external conference where they will hear about new industry trends that will support their jobs.

4. Reflect Employees’ Goals

Get together with workers regularly and consistently to ask them their short-term and longer-term goals. Let them know that you, as their supervisor want to help them achieve those goals. They will appreciate your willingness to support their success.

5. Spread the Word to Co-Workers about a Worker’s Achievement

When an employee contributes outstanding performance, distribute a ‘congrats’ group text or email to anyone on the team or those outside the team who interact closely with that worker and include key executives. Discuss the employee’s achievement with others and thank him/her for their creativity and their hard work. Doing this illustrates that you value their result  and  stimulates praise and recognition from their associates.

6. Assign Them to a High-Profile Assignment

A simple approach to express appreciation is to assign a high performer to a high-profile project that illustrates confidence in their abilities and talent. This also gives them a chance to have a higher profile in the company. Make known that you designated them for the project because of how you’ve appreciated their high achievement.

7. Make Praise Specific

To recognize the achievement of workers, inform them specifically what it is you appreciate. Don’t praise their hard work.  Many employees work hard and put in overtime. Rather, express your appreciation for their accomplishment on a specific assignment. Point out how you liked that it was well organized and the implementation was well done and the results were outstanding.  This also makes them and associates want to repeat that behavior so they get praise and feel valued on the next project.

Need Help Finding Top Performers for your Team?

Call Flexicrew. As one of  the Southeast’s top staffing agencies, we have 14 years experience serving employers – and helping them find truly exceptional people. Contact us today to learn more!

5 Paths to Raising Employee Productivity

Employee productivity is essential for a company to exist and move forward. If the employees do not accomplish their work tasks, then it harms the business. Sometimes there may be issues but it is important to have the employees understand the work rules, and stick to them. Nevertheless, there are some things that can be done to improve productivity in the workplace regardless of who the employee may be.

Here is a list of 5 ways to improve workplace productivity.

1. Set a Goal of Where the Company Needs To Be

A lot of times, if a person knows that his or her boss has expectations of how things should be in the workplace, they may feel a need to step up to the plate and give all of the effort that he or she can. No one wants to feel like they are a less valuable employee than the next person, so if the company is straightforward of how things should be, then a person will be more likely to put a bit more effort into what he or she does. Goals are something to strive for, and if a workplace has them in place, then the productivity will reach higher levels.

2. Good Communication

It is essential for a workplace to have good communication between employees and higher-ups. Communication is important regardless, but especially in the workplace. The communication should always be straightforward, and easy to understand. If communication is unclear, not only is it unprofessional, but it can also result in serious issues or even safety concerns. Communication should be fast as well. People should be told in advance about important things that he or she should know of. Communication should be consistent. It is not professional to keep employees unaware of some things, but communicate about others.

It is important to note that if communication is not a priority, then the work team risks not being very successful.

3. Support the Employee

A lot of times, if an employee just does not seem like himself, or is unusually unproductive, there is a reason behind it. If this is the case, it is wise to support the employee, and let him or her know that they have someone to talk to if they need it. Everyone wants to feel like they are needed, and if an employer shows that they value the employee by supporting them through a difficult time, then it will be greatly appreciated. Employees are a critical part of having a successful business, and if they are not in the right frame of mind, productivity will be down.

4. Recognize When an Employee Does Something Praiseworthy

As stated earlier, everyone wants to feel as though they are needed. If a supervisor tells the employee that he or she has done a good job and that their work is appreciated, it will go a long way. If a person notices that they are being praised for good work, it will motivate them to keep doing the best that they can, and will likely get them to try to become a better employee in the process. Everyone likes praise, and if it will help a person try to better themselves as a worker in the process then it is a win-win.

5. Establish SMART Goals

Either for ongoing project milestones or for directing individual employee work performance fix goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely). SMART goals are vital to achieving enhanced performance and more profitable outcomes.

Why Is All Of This Necessary?

If a company ever expects to have a highly productive workforce, then the steps above should be followed. If there are no goals, then there is no reason to strive to become better. If there is poor communication, then the workers will possibly leave and go somewhere where communication is more of a priority. If the employees are not supported by the employers, then they will not want to work for them anymore and go where they are respected. The same is true with employee appreciation. If a company does not get the basics right, then they are doomed from the start.

Conclusion

All in all, there are certain things that need to be done in order for workplace productivity to be high, and if these needs are not met, then there are big problems and things will need to change. If these needs are met however, then the company is on the right track and is headed towards success, as long as things stay consistent.

Flexicrew Staffing has the expert knowledge and resources to help you find the right candidates. Let us assist you in finding the right person for your small or midsize business.

Retaining Employees – Why it’s Crucial and How to Do it Right

In today’s challenging labor market, employers feel more need than ever to hold onto talent. Why, however, is this such a major challenge? Largely thanks to the worldview of millennials, who expect things fast, search for experiences, and are simply not willing to stay in a job long enough to wait for the benefits. Bad news is, with generation Z soon to come into their prime, the situation isn’t bound to fix itself any time soon, because if you thought millennials were an HR-handful, the follow-up is even more so.

The solution is – invest in retaining your employees.

5 Steps to Retaining Employees:

1. Ensure Supervisors can Connect with Workers

What we mean by connection isn’t painful, theory-X monitoring and control.  That would be bound to drive the young workers out the door from day one. Without a doubt, it’s a supervisor’s role to keep the finger on the pulse, but there is more than one way to approach it. Entrusting responsibility, avoiding micromanagement and being on the lookout for ‘teacher’s pet’ scenarios typically ensures that the sense of hierarchical authority doesn’t switch from respect into contempt or envy.

2. Set Up Workers for Success

Easier said than done? Truly, theories are filled with approaches that use fear as the predominant push factor, while the mindset of success gets ignored. Is it right? Not quite so. Although workers do tend to respond to fear well, and at times a crisis may be exactly what one needs, the dominating company environment should be that of positivity, success, brighter future on the horizon, and belief in each one of the employees. Flexicrew believes you can do this and is at times much more effective. We hope you will get yourself together for this one… It’s all about attitude.

3. Competitive Pay and Benefits

Almost every employee feels they are underpaid. This is hardly a feeling that goes away, simply because belief in monetary self-worth is rooted in each one of us living in the modern world. Certainly, you should aim to recognize achievement and hard work, and make sure to reward it accordingly, but what if you are a smaller business and resources are running on the lower side? You would like to reward your employees, but financials are so tight you are worried you can’t afford to do it left and right. Luckily, it’s not all workers look for. Medical insurance, a gym discount, free pizza on Thursdays, ability to occasionally work from home for young mothers, a ping pong table in the back of the office for employees to enjoy during break times – you would be surprised what a difference a relatively inexpensive benefit can make for employee retention percentage increase.

4. Employee and Work Team Recognition

Everyone talks about team work, and make no mistake, a good team is the absolute key to the success of your business. Sometimes it may, however, seem difficult to encourage it to go the way you want it to. One of the main issues is – in many workplaces, an ego of an employee still stands above the success of a team as a whole. This is human nature. If an employee isn’t feeling his skills are recognized, he may free-ride team tasks, and be reluctant to contribute as much as he could have. How do we deal with this? We uncover personal motivation. For some it’s a bonus, for another – public recognition (studies have proven that this particular procedure resulted in a better employee job satisfaction percentage than a higher compensation).  And for someone else – it’s a simple pat on the shoulder and a ‘good job’ aimed his way.

5. Offer Workers Means to Provide Input and Feedback

Last but not least, each one of us wants to be heard. Having a voice is crucial for a healthy job environment, so make it happen today. Suggestion boxes, anonymous supervisor evaluations, monthly meetings with the question on the agenda: “What should we do better?” The best suggestion which ends up implemented can even be rewarded!     At the end of the day, no matter if you are a business owner, a manager or an HR specialist, it’s all about asking yourself which environment would an employee happily be in X hours per day / Y days a week for at least 2 years.

And of course, start taking these baby steps today.

For more advice on retaining employees, give Flexicrew a call 866-720-FLEX (3539) or connect with one of our branches.

Ask the Flexpert…Why is Employee Recognition and Appreciation Important?

Employee recognition and appreciation pays solid dividends to businesses that excel in this.

Results of Employee Recognition and Appreciation

Ask the Flexpert

Firms that have a genuine process of recognizing employees have:

  • improved morale
  • stronger employee engagement
  • reduced worker turnover and
  • superior customer service

Results produced by employee recognition and appreciation programs have been as much as 50% greater productivity and up to a 20% increase in business outcomes.

So…

Purpose of Employee Recognition

Employee appreciation helps to salute hard work and the accomplishments of your individuals and groups. The reason you create an ongoing system of employee recognition is to:

  • build an employee-company emotional connection
  • make employees feel valued and respected
  • support your employees’ efforts and
  • reflect your company’s culture and values

With these in mind, give a tip-of-the-hat “thank you” to your top workers this Thanksgiving. Begin to plan for starting a systematic employee recognition and appreciation strategy for next year.

Your Next Step:

So, do some research, and when you are ready, contact Flexicrew Staffing. Of course, we are committed to helping businesses successfully improve operations, manage ROI and achieve greater workforce flexibility. So locate your local Flexicrew office and let’s get to work!

Then, if you still have questions, give us a call at 1-866-720-3539 (FLEX) for the answers to your staffing needs!

6 Ways to Show Employee Appreciation at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time we give thanks for family and friends and it’s equally important to show employee appreciation. Although you should express gratitude to your staff all year, Thanksgiving is a perfect time to boost your attempts to show them how much you are grateful their contributions.6 ways to show employee appreciation at Thanksgiving

And, as one of the Southeast’s top staffing agencies, Flexicrew Staffing knows that saying ‘thank you’ is much more than just a feel-good exercise. It can make a measurable impact on productivity, worker engagement  and profits. Also, the way you show employee appreciation is frequently the way they will treat your customers.

Equally, It’s important to define how employees want to be recognized, given their work environments and their job roles.

6 Ways to Show Employee Appreciation at Thanksgiving

To help you get started, here are six ways to show employee appreciation:

 

1. You’ve got to express your thanks

Each member of your team wants to know they are appreciated and that there is meaning and purpose to what they do.  And a simple ‘thank you’ for efforts or contributions or even going the extra mile is the easiest, fastest and least costly way to show employees you care  and notice their contributions. So get into the habit of saying ‘thank you.’  When was the last time you thanked an employee for a job well done?  And realize that recognition is best when it is specific and timely.

Another good way to show employee appreciation is in writing.  A simple way say ‘thanks’ is to jot a handwritten note. Just be specific with your employee and add at least one mention of a major strong point, behavior or completed assignment that you really appreciated and why.

2. Shine light on top performers

Send out an email to your entire staff recognizing certain employees for their excellent performance. You can promote their performance, too, in your company newsletter to customers.  Don’t hide their success under a bushel basket.

3. Casual conversations

Schedule a casual meeting with each employee to talk more about performance. But don’t simply talk about your goals and expectations.

Keep it low key.  Attempt to get to know them better. Ask about their career hopes and aspirations and how you can help them achieve more. Find out how they think things are going on the job and find out what you can do to give them more support.

4. Describe opportunities for career or job growth

Show your employees how much you trust and respect them by offering growth opportunities. By expanding access to opportunity, not only will you enhance their skills, but their loyalty as well.  Whether you recommend a stretch assignment, you can enhance their personal growth while also rewarding employees.

5. Employee appreciation day

By all means, if you want a formal event, plan an employee appreciation day once a month. Then you would highlight one or two staff members who have made an especially big impact that month. Not only will you recognize a top performer, but you’ll also stimulate others to work harder and expand their performance.   Look at it as a meaningful way to foster employee engagement, thank employees for their hard work and build employee camaraderie.

6. Reward system

Develop a program where every time an employee meets a goal or completes a project, they can earn points towards prizes.

Start to Show Employee Appreciation

In short, don’t assume your staff knows how much you value and appreciate them. Your responsibility is to show it – and these six suggestions are useful ways to start.  You will strengthen the emotional relationship between your organization and the people who deliver your results.

Do you need more help finding top performers for your team?

Call Flexicrew. As one of  the Southeast’s top staffing agencies, we have years of experience serving employers – and helping them find truly exceptional people. Contact us today to learn more!