There are four strategies which must be taken into consideration when ensuring the success of staff involvement within a business. These four include; staff innovation, motivation, mentoring and training.
Staff innovation provides a business with new ideas to enhance an existing product or idea. The employees who work on staff innovation are seen as entrepreneurs within the business, formally recognised as intrapreneurs. Good intrapreneurs are highly creative and are nonconformist, in order for the business not to limit their ideas through rules/regulations. Staff must be innovative to enhance their products and keep their consumers happy which maintains a competitive advantage in the market. Businesses must consider each innovation seriously and must not discourage employees, as this can lead to employee dissatisfaction, therefore reducing their productivity. Innovators must be unrestricted by management and must be rewarded for innovations that become profitable. Staff innovation leads to the enhancement of products and in-turn, success of the business.
Motivation within staff is a key aspect of a business’s function. It refers to the individual, internal process that directs, energises and sustains a person’s behaviour. Motivation is what drives an employee to work productively towards a goal. Many managers follow the concept of rewards and punishments in order to get their employees working to their peak. However, current research has obtained that there are more than just two variables and that not only do they relate directly to the employee, but it also relates to the managers influence and actions towards the employee; for example a manager must lead by example and provide a safe working environment.
Mentoring refers to an employee’s influences and the guidance they received through a mentor, whether it is a coach, tutor, trainer etc. A mentor is not only there to provide assistance and help with socialisation, but also as a role model. The mentor is usually an experienced employee who aids the less experienced employee. They learn the acceptable attitudes and behaviours of their role in the business and furthers their understanding of the values of the business. Mentors help new employees adapt to their new working environment and enhance their skills, which provides a positive outcome for the business.
Employee training refers to the process of teaching staff how to perform their job more efficiently and effectively by boosting their knowledge and skill. They are taught specific skills in accordance with their role in the business and to adapt to new technology. Employees need constant training to enhance their skill and knowledge in order to adapt to changes in the workplace. Training can be performed in two methods; informal on-the-job-training, being the most common and formal off-the-job training, consisting of lectures and classrooms. Businesses should perceive training as an investment in human capital, rather than an expense.
Business success relies on staff involvement through the four strategies. A businesses primary asset are the employees and without their involvement, putting their skill and training to use, the business would fail.
Steven Saba