Tag: staff development

1. Employee satisfaction – is it all about the money?

   November 6, 2019 1:59 pm

   With several high profile salary rows in the media at the moment you might be forgiven for thinking that employee satisfaction centres around the money.

   Rows at the BBC over gender pay imbalance have hit the headlines as female presenters highlight the gap between their salaries and those of their male colleagues in similar roles. However, the issue being raised is less about the size of pay packets and more about equality and fairness in the workplace, which are vital for employee satisfaction.

   At Ocean Edge we talk to many job candidates and employers each week, and know the key to a happy workforce and retaining top employees goes beyond renumeration.

   So how do you show your staff they are valued? Here’s some ways to improve employee satisfaction in your organisation:

   Listen to your team

   Giving your employees opportunities to share their ideas, requests and even displeasure will help to create a culture of trust within your organisation. Talk to staff about what would help them to achieve more as a team. Also make yourself available to discuss individual requests and issues.

   Be flexible about employee benefits

   One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to benefits and happiness in the work place. Depending on where an individual is in their career and personal life they may be more interested in financial benefits, higher pension contributions, more comprehensive health care or flexible working. The only way to be sure is to have the discussion.

   Invest in training

   Create a tailored continual professional development plan for each member of staff within your organisation. Investing in their personal skills will make them better employees and more dedicated to the success of your business.

   Mentor future leaders

   Identify staff with the potential to become the next generation of leaders within your organisation. Set them on the path to promotion with mentoring and project leadership opportunities that will motivate them to succeed. Read more about developing leaders within your business.

   Create a fair salary structure

   If gender pay imbalance is a legacy issue within your organisation then an internal salary review will demonstrate that you value all your staff and put things on an even keel.

   If you are an employer in the affordable housing sector looking to grow your team then Ocean Edge can help. We have offices in Southampton and London offering recruitment consultancy services.

   For more information about how we can support your organisation get in contact: call 023 8000 1153 or email info@oceanedge.biz.

2. The best ways to motivate your team

   October 22, 2019 2:45 pm

   It’s common for an individual’s motivation to crash at some point during their career. This could be for a number of work-related or personal reasons. A good manager needs to be on the look out for low motivation within their team and know how to reignite work place happiness in the interests of their staff and business.

   The benefits of having a happy, motivated team are many. Motivated staff are more engaged, productive and valuable team members. But when it comes to finding the best ways to motivate your team they may not be what you’d expect.

   Happiness vs pleasure

   A pay rise might be the first thing that comes to mind when you are thinking of ways to motivate your team. However, the chances are this will provide a short-lived boost before motivation dwindles again.

   It’s important for you to understand the difference between happiness and pleasure when you are trying to motivate staff to work towards a shared goal.

   Happiness is a state of mind – it cannot be bought like pleasure. The downside of trying to motivate your team with pleasurable things – such as money, gifts and treats – is that the feelings these spark are fleeting and will not breed long-term happiness.

   So what will bring your team happiness and make them more motivated to work with you to build your business? Here’s where to focus:

   Good leadership

   Be a good leader by sharing your vision for the team and making sure everyone knows how they contribute to the business’ overall success.

   Empower your staff

   Share control of business decisions with your team and empower them to shape their own work schedule. This might involve flexible or home working to create a better work-life balance.

   Also, encourage your team to stop thinking about work in their personal time, like at lunch or the weekend. This will make them more productive, accurate and motivated in the normal working day.

   Job security

   Give your team reason to feel secure in their jobs. Share your organisation’s business plans, how it is investing in the future and the positive impact this will have for staff.

   The opportunity to grow

   Your staff will feel motivated to stretch themselves if there are opportunities to grow within your business. This may involve training to help them master their role or the opportunity to take a step up within the business.

   Read more about how to retain top performers and develop leaders within your business.

   Motivating your team

   To sum up, the best ways to motivate your team are strongly aligned with investing in their long-term happiness. Quick fixes may generate a momentary buzz, but are unlikely to keep your staff performing at their peak.

   Ocean Edge offers recruitment consultancy services to the affordable housing sector. We have teams in London and Southampton who are ready to help you recruit to your organisation. Contact us at Ocean Edge by calling 023 8000 1153 or emailing info@oceanedge.biz.

3. How to develop future leaders in your business

   September 25, 2019 12:02 pm

   Good leadership makes for successful organisations. This is because well led employees are more motivated and productive. They deal better with change and are more likely to be satisfied in their roles. So when a gap appears in your leadership team how can you develop future leaders to help move your business forward?

   There is no doubt that some people are more naturally predisposed to leadership roles – they seem to have what it takes to be a leader. You may have spotted these people in your business already.

   But it is also possible to create leaders within your organisation with the right investment. Here’s how:

   Lead from the front

   Leadership starts at the top and filters down. An organisation that has clear objectives and a strong ethos delivered by a dynamic senior management team is far more likely to create leaders from within.   

   Identify potential

   It’s important to recognise individuals who have a natural aptitude for inspiring others to get things done. These are the future leaders of your organisation.

   Carry out annual appraisals, recognise those who go above and beyond their job specification, and reward this behaviour. This will motivate your high performing staff and keep them loyal until the ideal leadership opportunity becomes available.

   Understand and harness different leadership styles

   There are many leadership styles. Some leaders work well in a crisis; others to achieve long term aims. When identifying potential leadership talent it’s worth remembering two different approaches can work equally well. Having leaders with range of different styles can enhance an organisation.

   Set up mentoring

   Having identified those with potential, it’s important to invest time in them to prepare them for increasing levels of responsibility. Providing a mentor – a role model who has already succeeded – may provide the support and motivation they need to take on larger challenges.

   Coaching them and monitoring their goals will also provide a road map to guide the potential leader along their journey.

   Invest and develop

   Leadership skills can be learnt. There are a huge range of courses and training opportunities that can be explored, such as task-based leadership activity days, mindfulness and personality awareness, and even academic study.

   Talk to the future leaders in your organisation to see what type of development they would prefer and which they think would be of benefit to their team. Investing in their potential at the right time will help you retain your top staff.

   Provide challenges and take calculated risks

   Leaders flourish in difficult situations. Be sure to empower them to make decisions and trust their abilities, allowing them to achieve their own successes. There may be a big project coming up in your business that needs someone to spearhead it – this is the ideal opportunity for a developing leader to step up.

   Ultimately they will become the mentors and role models for the next generation of leaders in your organisation.

   Find out how a specialist recruitment agency can help you find the best employees to grow your business.

   Ocean Edge offers recruitment consultancy services to the affordable housing sector. For more information about how we can support your organisation with external and internal recruitment get in contact: call 023 8000 1153 or email info@oceanedge.biz.