In this era of business, the needs of the consumer, and your team members, are rapidly changing. To get the most out of your employees, you need to ensure they feel connected to the performance and success of the business. Here are some ways to break down the barriers between management and employees to ensure that happens.

Empower Your People

The current generation of employees desires a feeling of individual accomplishment in their roles. This can take the form of ensuring they feel they can be successful in their role and giving them the levity to develop their skill set. This process often involves the employee failing and then responding to feedback, so be sure to offer constructive encouragement.

The end result of this approach is quite significant. Deloitte Insights recently found that companies that have adopted this method show a 30% increase in innovation and a 40% increase in retention. The days of presenting statistics to your employees to drive them have gone by the wayside.

Interact With Your Employees

Recent studies have shown that only 30% of employees are fully engaged in the company they work for. Employees are the backbone of the company, so it is imperative that managers focus on engaging their employees in fun ways. You can accomplish this with activities like team happy hours or even branded company apparel.

These techniques emphasize the team atmosphere and build a connection between you and your team.

Quick & Informal Feedback

Feedback should ideally happen in the moment or as soon as you can provide it. This will result in your team member feeling coached, rather than criticized, and lowers the risk of defensiveness on their part. Most managers that have adopted this method have found it powerful given that it reflects how individuals naturally process information and interact on a personal level. 

These are just some of the ways modern managers are communicating with their employees and boosting productivity. Every company and industry is different, so I implore you to tweak and fine-tune these styles to meet the needs of your industry and company culture.