Anyone who holds the role of CEO knows that leading a company into the future is no easy task. CEOs wear many hats; in many ways, they are the business. This being said, no CEO is being honest with himself in believing that he can run the company without the help of vital employees. Whether you want to admit it or not, your employees are what keeps your business running like a well-oiled machine, which is why it is so important to tip your hat to them regularly.
No matter how high in quality your employees are, productivity lapses are bound to occur. Being the best CEO means recognizing issues and correcting them before they have a chance to cause any real damage. If you're aware of what's going on and remain proactive, you've got nothing to lose.
Don't Skimp on Praise
When someone goes to an office every day, they want to know that they're being recognized for their contributions. After all, what employee doesn't enjoy a little praise every now and then?
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to keep employees motivated and productive is to refrain from calling out their mistakes in a condescending way. A show of respect will make your employees feel as if the work they're doing is not in vain – something that any CEO can benefit from. There are always going to be times when you'll need to pull employees aside because they aren't performing a task properly, but instead of focusing on the negative, try to inject a positive attitude into your workplace and highlight the good over the bad.
Keep Communication Going
Just as within a relationship, communication is a key aspect of maintaining solid workflow within your business. A lack of communication not only encourages mistakes, but can make employees feel as if you think they aren't worth your time. Try to schedule at least one time per day for your entire staff to either be in the same room or communicate via conference call. Today's office phone systems allow employees to work from home or in satellite offices, which means there's really no reason why you can't convene as a group on a daily basis. If there's no breakdown in communication, chances are you won't see a breakdown in productivity.
Keep Superlative Rules to a Minimum
As CEO, you've got to ensure that your employees know you're in charge. Even the best CEOs struggle with this, as it often becomes personal, and conflict is something that no business savvy individual wants. While you should never stray from asserting your role as leader, it can be helpful to keep frivolous rules to a minimum.
Rules that aren't exactly necessary will not only cause employees to be annoyed, but it may make them feel as if they aren't trusted. The latter, especially, can have a dramatically negative impact on productivity in your workplace, and will cause bitterness among the people who work for you. Some rules will always be necessary, but creating harsh restrictions just because you want your employees to know where they stand won't do you any favors.
Workplace productivity is a fickle thing, and sometimes more of an art than a science. Make sure your employees are on the same page as you and you'll be more than halfway there.