Staff Communication

Create job descriptions that communicate the duties of the available position clearly. You don’t want clutter like a dozen incidental tasks the person needs to do. You also don’t want a document that rhapsodizes about the corporate mission and culture. Job descriptions are not only one of your key interviewing tools, they are vital performance management tools.

For some people, just hearing the word “change” in the workplace makes their heart race. They’re afraid of the unknown and it’s your job to help them make the leap from the solid ground where they stand now to the solid ground on the other side of the gorge. To help your team embrace the “new way,” move them through the emotional cycle of change: denial to resistance to exploration to commitment.

Team members are often the source of spontaneous and unapproved change. Maybe they have an idea for increased functionality of a product, or a cheaper and faster way of getting something done. Even with the best intentions, individuals and your team as a group might initiate change that has the potential to get very messy.

Don’t waste your team’s time. Take charge of meetings and make sure they are productive with these 12 steps adapted from AMA Business Boot Camp — a compendium of some of the American Management Association’s best advice, edited by Ed Reilly.

Coaching employees one-on-one is an incredibly powerful way to improve productivity and employee engagement. Good coaches know a lot about their teams and what those players are up against before they ever open their mouths. Take time to plan for a coaching meeting and don’t underestimate the preparation you need to do for it. You make your direct reports feel valued and motivated when you come into a coaching session with clarity about what needs to happen.

When you communicate with clear intent, you let people know you are mission-focused and that you respect their time—and your own. This article offers advice on how to write clear emails.