| You are the owner and manager of a small | | | | trouble giving up tasks to others. They may |
| business. Not only do you need to know about | | | | feel that the work is best completed by them. |
| the inner-workings of the business and the | | | | However, you need to give employees a chance |
| financial issues but you also need to be a | | | | to be productive. If the only tasks they ever |
| good manager. Management skills can be just | | | | receive are mundane or tedious they will soon |
| as important in keeping the business running | | | | tire of the situation. What's more, you need |
| well as your other areas of expertise. Here | | | | people who you can count on to help the |
| are some quick and easy management tips to | | | | business thrive. After all, you will need to |
| help you keep the business running smoothly. | | | | take time off and get a vacation and need to |
| | | | know that the business will run properly even |
| Make rules but be fair. In this day and age | | | | when you are away. |
| you need to set some ground rules so that | | | | |
| each employee is treated fairly. However, you | | | | Teach employees what their job is. Write |
| also need to know when to use common sense to | | | | complete job descriptions for each position. |
| guide you through sticky situations. Write | | | | These descriptions should be specific and |
| down your expectations, and then translate | | | | complete so that current and potential |
| those into language that your employees will | | | | employees understand their job functions. |
| understand. Present this to each new hire and | | | | Update the descriptions as needed. Provide |
| post the rules in the office. | | | | plenty of on the job training and remember |
| | | | that not everyone catches on quickly. Have |
| Understand the workings of the data and | | | | patience and understanding. |
| telephone systems. Use new technology to help | | | | |
| your employees work more efficiently. If your | | | | Communicate regularly with all employees. |
| company warrants it look into a good | | | | Employees need to know what is happening. |
| corporate long distance plan. Train employees | | | | Rumors can run rampant and can ruin morale in |
| on the office systems in place so that they | | | | the process. Send a monthly email memo or |
| can take advantage of the timesaving features | | | | hand out a newsletter. The communication will |
| they provide. | | | | do wonders to keep things running smoothly |
| | | | and to keep attitudes up. |
| Don't worry about the small things. If you | | | | |
| have a tendency to micro-manage your | | | | Stress good customer service. First and |
| employees they won't feel free to be creative | | | | foremost your customers are who keep your |
| and to think outside the box. Allow others to | | | | business going. Make sure that employees put |
| do things in their own way as long as they | | | | customer service first and keep it there. |
| can accomplish what's needed. Constantly | | | | Offer courses or webinars that teach |
| picking on the work of others will only keep | | | | employees good customer service skills. Plan |
| employees from ownership of their work. | | | | some training time each month for each |
| | | | employee. Even an hour or two per month will |
| Learn to delegate. Most manager/owners have | | | | help keep customer service in the forefront. |