In any given company, a manager can be tasked with overseeing and coaching several different work types. Although this can be a challenge, it is the manager’s duty and responsibility to ensure all employees on the team are being as productive as possible – even if this requires managing certain employees in different ways.  While some employees have no problem working quickly in order to meet a tight deadline, other employees may perform better when working at a slower pace to avoid mistakes.  Each style of working has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, and as a manager, it is important to know the best strategies for managing your slow and steady employees, as well as your quick workers. To begin working out your own strategy, try the following:

• Measure productivity.  A great starting point is to measure the productivity of each employee to determine if their work pace is resulting in errors; this can happen with both fast and slow employees. If your findings suggest that your employees need to adjust their pace, communicate with them openly and make sure they are clear on your expectations.
• Manage individually.  Not all employees will operate the same. Some will naturally thrive under pressure while others will simply need more time. Understanding each individual’s work habits is the key to effectively managing them to deliver desired results.
• Trust your employees. It is likely that each employee will be aware of their preference to work faster or slower; however, most employees will also recognize that there will be certain situations in which they will need to take their time, and other situations in which they will need to work at a faster speed.  Trusting your team and giving them the freedom they need to work at the right pace at the right time is often the best way to produce the right results.

Successfully helping employees perform their best in a working style comfortable to them is a goal of many managers. As Mississippi’s leading office administrative staffing firm, Staffers, Inc. has been matching Jackson area companies with top performing candidates for nearly 20 years. If you are looking for additional resources on management best practices, contact the staffing experts at Staffers, Inc. today!