Managing a small team of about ten employees is already challenging on its own, but what if that responsibility was increased to hundreds of employees? Thinking about it alone is enough to make one shudder while pondering how to keep everyone accountable for their work and instill company culture makes it even more daunting.
That said, there are amazing professionals like Costas Polycarpou who have been able to successfully manage ridiculously large teams of workers from across the globe. Costos Polycarpou is the founder of the construction and building services company, Polyteck which is based in the UK.
Having a big, successful company, Costas oversees hundreds of employees and has been able to do so without being overwhelmed. In this article, we’ll look at five things he does to make sure he does the job right.
Adapt a Hierarchical System
Having a hierarchical system helps tremendously in handling a large number of employees. Because it is unrealistic for a single individual to oversee hundreds of individuals, businesses break the responsibility by creating managerial positions. These managers are responsible for a specific number of workers, typically, this number is anywhere between 10 and 15 people.
By managing a maximum of 15 people, managers are able to efficiently allocate time for their own work and overseeing the employees put in their care. Managerial positions should be set up based on the needs of the company and industry standards. For the system to work, there must be consistency in the hierarchy structure. That said, the span of control may vary depending on the type of management. Click here to learn more about hierarchical structures in a company.
Delegate Authority When Necessary
To run a business successfully, one must accept early on that it is practically impossible for one to oversee hundreds of workers all by oneself; doing so will burn you out before you reach your business goals. There isn’t enough time to supervise every employee while taking on other crucial tasks and aspects of the company.
To keep the business running smoothly while you handle other important areas of the business, you need to trust your managers with some responsibilities by delegating authority. Rather than have every employee report directly to you, set managers over each team that will regularly report to you. This not only reduces your workload; it also ensures every team member gets appropriate supervision and accountability without any high-level manager being overworked.
Work with a Reporting System
Having so many people to manage, you may not receive reports from every single employee; however, this doesn’t mean you aren’t responsible for their actions. You have to create a functional reporting system that will keep you aware of all that is going on in every department of the business.
As the head, it is your duty to regularly check in with workers who report directly to you as this is crucial if you want to run your business smoothly. By consistently getting detailed reports, you can make important timely decisions when they matter the most.
Reports should be structured so that some are received daily, weekly or monthly, depending on departmental goals. These reports should not be limited to business progress only, you should also look at other important occasions like employee birthdays, and anniversaries.
Empower Dependable Employees
Micromanaging your employees is the fastest way to get them tired of working for you. Many business owners have lost valuable workers because they try to make every single decision regarding the business.
Humans like to be in control and even though you wouldn’t give a team member control over the entire business, you should empower them to make important decisions in their various departments. When you trust your employees will make decisions that are in the best interest of the company, they become stakeholders; which means they become invested in making the business grow and succeed.
This is also backed by research since a study revealed that 70% of employees are more engaged at work when they are empowered to make autonomous decisions.
Know Your Workers on a More Personal Level
The mistake many business owners make is staying cooped up in their offices all day without interacting with workers. This makes employees see you as a robot and not a human being. Humans are emotional beings and research shows that business owners who make effort to interact with employees on a personal level tend to have more productive workers.
So, from time to time, leave your desk and speak with as many workers around you as possible. Don’t ask about work, ask them about their family, ask how they are coping with work, and mean it. They’ll see right through you if it isn’t coming from the heart. Visit https://businessmarketingengine.com/more-than-small-talk-the-importance-of-getting-to-know-your-employees/ to learn more about why employers need to know their employees.
Conclusion
Running a successful company takes more than being financially savvy and literate. The success of every enterprise depends on the workers that carry out the day-to-day processes. If you can master how to manage them effectively, you’ll see your business skyrocket to greater heights.
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