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Could better people management skills in your organisation boost your profit? If you want a healthy ‘bottom line’ – and who doesn’t – it can pay to ensure that your employees are healthy and happy.

The cost of work related stress claims has received a good amount of press coverage in recent years. Poor people management skills and/or low employee morale are often involved in such claims. But it’s not just increased insurance premiums that businesses may face as a result of poor people management – overall productivity and profitability can suffer greatly when employees are resentful, unmotivated or lack a sense of loyalty to the employer.

How do you avoid the problem of a staff that is discouraged, de-motivated and showing signs of loss of trust and loyalty? Good people management skills are really essential if you want to get the best out of your employees.

One approach to people management is to be task-focussed – that is, to make sure the jobs get done. Another is to be a ‘people person ‘– someone who gets along well with others easily. Good people management requires both. A good manager of people will also lead, direct, motivate, influence and extend their skills.

Here are some tips to help you develop your people management skills:

• Build relationships and rapport with your workforce, and between individuals through team building.
• Be visible to your employees. Let them see you are open, fair and interested.
• Be approachable – don’t make it hard for people to come and talk honestly to you.
• Share information with your staff, and give opportunities for feedback and questions.
• Be a role model – show them that you are positive and that you respect them. Show an interest in them as people, not just as workers.
• Engage them in decision-making, and share responsibility with them.
• Encourage and motivate, give guidance and extra help if needed, and keep criticism to a minimum, and at a professional level.
• Show trust, by allowing them to do the job without constant supervision. Make it clear what the task is and let them get on with it.
• Show that you value them – through recognition, rewards, and allowing some flexibility.
• Have good training and development programs in place.
• Leverage their skills and talents by giving them responsibilities and opportunities for further training.
• Show up when things get tough. Don’t bunker down in a hiding place but take responsibility and lead.
• Show a little humility – allow feedback and listen to what they have to say.
• Finally – treat them as adults. Show that you respect them as equal human beings.

The Golden Rule applies – treat others as you yourself would like to be treated in their position, while still leading and directing.

Learning to manage the people in your organisation effectively is of vital importance. Your bottom line depends on it!

Author Bio: Lisa Spiden works as a specialist HR consultant to Small Business through fibreHR. Working to build lasting and meaningful relationships with the people that shape their businesses. We cater to fast-growing, brand oriented businesses who recognise that people are their biggest asset and will have a significant impact on the success of your business. For more information on lisa, please read her profile.

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