Facing Your Fears – How to Conquer Dreaded Managerial Challenges

“Managing people is easy,” said no manager ever. Running any type of organization is challenging. Whether you oversee a department of nurses, a unit of officers, or a team of service providers, every administrative role comes with its own unique challenges. There are, however, some universal obstacles that almost every manager can relate to when it comes to managing people. Here are some common managerial challenges, and what you can do to overcome them and be a better leader.

Vetting and Hiring Employees
A strong team of employees is the foundation of a successful organization. To find the right individuals for your team, start by developing detailed job descriptions and put them in places most likely to attract people with the exact skills and qualities that matter most to you. Once you narrow down the list of candidates, send a list of five or six pertinent questions to the people who most closely match the job requirements. This helps weed out average employees from the stand-out employees you want to interview. Have HR perform a quick phone or video interview to help narrow down the list even further before you spend time on lengthy in-person interviews with the most qualified individuals.

Onboarding and Training
Onboarding is more than giving new employees a tour and explaining company benefits. When a new employee is hired, spend time with them defining the organization’s culture, expectations, performance measurables, and long-term goals. Explain policies and processes clearly, so they understand what to expect from colleagues and leadership. Your training program will vary depending on your organization, but there are some best practices that are applicable to all types of operations. Keep in mind that there is a lot to take in as a new hire, and it can be a bit overwhelming. Start slow when you’re training a new employee. If they seem comfortable with all the information you’re offering, then you can speed up the process and give them more responsibilities. Also, no employee can be successful if they don’t have the right tools, so make sure employees have every necessary resource their job requires. This includes appropriate workspace and supplies, powerful communication tools, robust staff scheduling software, and adequate support from colleagues and management.

Managing Relationships
Managers are in charge of analyzing workplace culture to determine employee engagement, satisfaction levels, and the overall atmosphere among employees. It’s important to address any issues or conflicts that could lead to dissatisfied employees as soon as they are detected. Unresolved conflict leads to a toxic work environment, which can result in decreased productivity, absenteeism, and employee turnover. To mitigate conflict, managers should first try to understand the underlying emotions of employees and carefully consider all sides of each situation. Addressing concerns directly shows your team you care about their well-being. Employees who feel supported by management are more engaged and often more productive.

Staff Scheduling
Scheduling employees can be a painstaking process that consumes far too much of a manager’s time. Some organizations, such as healthcare and law enforcement, must adhere to strict staffing requirements; others need to ensure they have enough people scheduled to meet operational goals. Staff scheduling software helps simplify the staff scheduling process and gives employees 24/7 access to schedules, so everyone has accurate schedule information. ScheduleAnywhere also allows employees to submit time-off, cover, and swap requests, and you can immediately see whether the request conflicts with other shifts. Look for software that  includes a staff schedulng app. Employees appreciate the anytime, anywhere schedule access, and you have peace of mind knowing every shift is properly covered.

Handling Call Offs
An employee calling to say they can’t come into work is inevitable, and filling open shifts is one of a manager’s most dreaded tasks. It can take hours to identify available employees and make phone call after phone call to fill an open shift. Staff scheduling software makes it easy for you to find qualified employees who are available to work, and it allows you to quickly message individuals, all employees, or a select group of employees based on credentials, shift, skill, or availability. ScheduleAnywhere also allows managers to message other administrators about shared employees to further assist in covering open shifts and locating available employees.

Managing the people who keep your operation running can be overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to make the responsibility less daunting. Discover how ScheduleAnywhere staff scheduling software makes tasks such as ensuring proper coverage and filling open shifts fast and easy, freeing up your time for handling day-to-day operations. Try it FREE today!