HOW TO DELEGATE EFFECTIVELY AT THE WORKPLACE

delegation

In today’s competitive business environment, one of the most crucial and challenging tasks for managers and supervisors are to apportion work among the employees they manage and supervise. A lot of managers and supervisors frequently complain that they have too much to do and too little time in which to do it. However, the old adage “If you want something done right, do it yourself" prevents managers from delegating. Managers should delegate work not to just relieve their workload, but to allow the employees they supervise to grow professionally.

In this post I intend sharing with your some basic guidelines to help you delegate effectively at your workplace.Are you ready? I am too, so let’s get going!

•     Ascertain  which task you want to delegate

 It is important to first determine what you are going to delegate. Then take the time to plan on what it is you want to delegate and why you want to delegate that specific task. In addition, find out how you are going to present the task to your employee; include your requirements, parameters, checkpoints and expectations.

• Select the right person

Asses the skills and experience of your employees as objectively as possible and select the right person or team for the assignment. Personally, I believe employees who are creative and self motivated enough to work without you constantly looking over their shoulder and giving instructions are the preferred choice. 

•    Clarify the Expected Outcome

Give an overview of the assignment including the importance of the assignment and why you have chosen the employee for the job. In addition, determine the results you consider necessary for successful completion of the task

•   Give the subordinate time and space to complete the task

Delegating a task to a subordinate place enough trust in him to execute the task. As much as possible, avoid constantly jumping back in to check on how things are going. Give the person room to be able to successfully complete their assignment, and remember, while there is an agreed upon goal, they don’t have to get there exactly how you would get there. Let them do things in their own way; it shows that you trust their ability to make the right decision and it increases the morale of the subordinate.

• Undertake Periodic Follow-Ups

Schedule a series of follow-up meetings. This is not necessarily to stick your nose in what they’re doing. Periodic follow ups enable subordinate to raise questions and concerns that need to be addressed .It also enables the manager or the supervisor to monitor progress and determine the need for assistance.

What Next?

Managers and supervisors need to learn how to delegate effectively at the workplace because delegating grooms your successor so that you can move on to bigger and better things. Often managers and supervisors derail their own advancement by not having someone to take their place don’t let this be you.

                                                                                                                   

How to Provide Exceptional Customer Service Experience

One vital asset that every company must have is its customers; without them, no business entity can survive. Exceptional customer service is the key to success of every business. Satisfied customers do not only help your business to grow by continuing to do business with you, they recommend you to friends and associates. Studies show that repeat customers typically spend more money, generate larger transactions, refer more customers, and buy a broader range of products than one-time shoppers.

 So how then do we provide exceptional customer service experience?  Use the following guidelines below to provide exceptional customer service experience:

• Address customers by their name

The most pleasant sound in the ears of every person is his or her name. Address customers by name as often as possible, this adds a personalized aspect to your customer, it shows you pay attention to them and value them as a person, rather than just a nameless customer who purchased an item or service from your company.

• Listen attentively and ask questions

Focus one hundred percent whenever a customer calls, email or approaches you with a concern or a question. Often, customer service representatives who are only on the phone pay half mind to customers, because they are not in their presence to gauge any facial reaction. But remember, a customer will pick up on your tone of voice or the way you comment if you do not listen to what they are saying. Active listening requires you to ask questions for clarification to best understand them. This in turn lets the customer know you are listening to what they are saying, and doing your best to solve the issue.

• Go the Extra Mile

What can you give customers that they cannot get elsewhere? What can you give a customer that is totally unexpected? These are some of the question you need to provide answers to in providing exceptional customer service experience. Go the extra mile, surprise customers by over delivering. Throw in surprise extras or deals when customers place large orders. This shows loyal customers you appreciate the fact that they chose you over your competitors

• Learn to Apologize

Apologize when something goes wrong; even if you know the situation was not your fault. It is appropriate that you accept full responsibility for the situation. You don't have to say it was your fault, but you do need to apologize for the fact that they feel upset or inconvenienced. The customer may not always be right, but the customer must always win.

• Resolve Problems Immediately

Majority of customers prefer staying with a business that resolves their complaint quickly, and would rather not have to look for somewhere else to take their business. Deal with problems immediately and let customers know what you have done. The faster you resolve it, the better.

What Next?

Finally to provide exceptional customer service, make it simple for customers to complain. Value their complaints; as much as we dislike it, it gives us an opportunity to improve.

5 EFFECTIVE STEPS TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY

Are you a Boss or a C.E.O and wondering how to make your employees more productive? You see, the cost involved in hiring and training new employees is so expensive and time consuming that managers of organizations need to ensure that they bring onboard innovative ways that would increase the productivity of employees. It is not enough for employees to have an office to work in and get a cheque at the end of the month. Less productive inputs and lower efficiency levels are bound to affect the business and jeopardize its sustainability and survival. In this post, i share with you one of the plethora of articles i have written for How to Plaza. I hope it helps you boost the moral of your employees

 Below are some techniques you can take to increase employee productivity in your organization.

• Give out achievement awards:  Employees are motivated by the need for social recognition; hence, giving achievement awards to outstanding employees is an excellent way to improve productivity. These achievement awards can take the form of plaques, certificates, prizes, or even special parking spaces, and are handed out to employees who meet certain performance standards.

• Encourage and Motivate: Employers must make it a habit to always have words of encouragement for his employees. Encouraging employees helps them move forward and do even better, and makes the worker feel happy. Innovative ways of motivating them spurs them even more. For example, offer holidays or paid conferences to staff that prove to be outstanding in their field; these motivate them immensely and encourage others to give off their very best.

• Operate an Open Door policy: Keep communication with employees open. Listen to their complaints and pay attention to the problems going on in the workplace. To increase productivity, you should spend time listening to their suggestions and add comments if necessary 

• Use a Monetary reward system: Use money to keep employees from looking elsewhere. Regularly offer small bonuses or raises to loyal employees. Set up a raise schedule, so that employees can see what awaits them if they choose to stay.

•  Courses and improvement options: Employees are delighted when they can enhance their skills and get additional learning opportunities sponsored by the employer. This helps them learn, feel indebted for the money being spent on them, which also adds to their resume, and are obliged to perform better by applying all the knowledge gained in these courses.

WHAT NEXT?

Well, these are not all the steps you can take to increase the productivity of your employees, if you have more ways;kindly share it with us. And remember, if you are an unproductive employee;you just have two options, either YOU LOVE THE WORK OR YOU QUIT!

EmmanuelKumah: How to start a Business

Hi there, today i would be starting a new post on how to start a  business, many young individuals have the desire to be their own boss and  to earn some extra money.Unfortunately, not many know the fundamentals of starting a home based business or turning their ideas into profit. Worry no more ,in this post we would be exploring how  to start your own business and be your own boss. Hope you are ready to learn? Before i begin , know that your most valuable asset in starting a new business is your mind. It is your ability to think, to question, to analyze and then to decide and take action that determine whether you would be successful in staring your own business. What this post would do is to give you  key ideas and exercises that will help you to make better decisions and get better results. Your job is to take action on these decisions once you have made them. And don't forget to give me a little of the money when it starts to flow,Would you do it ? Becoming An Entreprenuer: How to start a business Let's begin with the basics so we can climb high the ladder.Whether you are already operating a business, or you have just decided to start a new business, you must continually evaluate your current situation. Even if you are currently selling a product or service, you must recognize and accept that 80% or more of your products or services will be new or different in five years. Is that surprising!As an exercise, imagine that you were starting over today. Is there anything that you are doing that, knowing what you now know, you wouldn't get into again today? Imagine that you have no limitations of time, money, experience or resources. If you could do anything new  in your business life, what would you choose? 1: Start With Yourself You have something within that could make you rich,begin with your own talents, your own abilities, your experience, knowledge, interest, background, education and so on. Look carefully at that skill or new set of skills that you can learn and develop,for someone to pay you money in return for that service or product- Look within your own life and work under your own feet, for your own "acres of diamonds."- you posses something deep in you that would help you start a business, you may know how to sing, write -as i do! or can do some neat gardening in your house . If you can answer these questions you are on your way to starting  your own business- What qualities do you have that account for your greatest success in life so far? What personal skills and abilities have gotten you to where you are today? How could you apply those same skills and abilities to starting and building a new business? Hope you were able to find some answers if not all,well if you weren't take a break a coffee break and reflect on these, and let's get talking  2. Identify a Customer Need Many fortunes begin when an individual sees a customer need that is not being satisfied and which their current company has no interest or desire in satisfying. You may not be  working in that company but you may be a customer in that company or firm , this too is an advantage.Sometimes this idea comes as the result of customer inquiries or complaints and so if you are in a company that receives so many complaints from customers it is the best chance on capitalizing on their complains and jumping the line to start your own business either part time or full. From the complaints or what you have encounter as a customer ,decide to start a new business, sometimes on the side, to give these customers what they are asking . There is a great business opportunity staring you in the face, right where you are today. What could it be? What Next? Is your turn Just for laugh! I always want to know what my readers feel after reading my post, so i welcome all comments and suggestions you may find helpful. Feel free to share this on facebook and other social networks and keep in touch as we explore the other steps. Thanks