They say that employees vote with their feet. Research tells us a high percentage of employees leave companies because they have a problem with their direct supervisor or boss.
And, if you ask employees, one of these key frustrations is a lack of clear job expectations. Imagine assembling a toy for your kids without the diagram/instructions. Or putting together a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle without a picture on the cover to guide you! Some employees feel exactly like that.
So, how do we make sure an employee knows the job expectations? A list of questions below, for supervisors to consider:
1) Does my employee know the tasks that must be finished, and by when?
2) Does my employee know the approximate time and effort it should take to complete each task?
3) Have my employees been trained on how to accomplish their tasks?
4) Do employees know which tools and resources they should use to accomplish their job?
5) Do staff receive individual recognition (positive or constructive negative) on a regular basis (that is, at least weekly)?
6) Do employees have the opportunity to correct their mistakes and learn from them?
7) Do I review my staff's workload periodically and ensure that the right training, resources and corrective action are available to help make my employees successful?
The above questions are easy to ask - but take work and effort to make a reality.
The payoff for clear expectations? Strong employee loyalty and results-oriented focus in your department. The results - and business savings - will flow from that!
