Every business can reap the benefits of a fluid team, but achieving this fluidity and versatility is not always straightforward. While hiring managers can–and should–look for employees with various skills that complement each other, it’s too easy for employees to fall into their roles without expanding their horizons. So, how can managers improve versatility within the office? 

Provide Thorough Training 

Training everyone to do everything can consume too much time, especially during onboarding. However, you can allow your employees to learn more about other roles through training once they are settled. They can experience these roles during downtime or split their time between their standard role and one they want to explore. Your employees don’t need to know how to do everything, but encouraging everyone to explore at least one other department could benefit your business. 

Stand Back 

Employees do not want you to breathe down their necks every hour of the day, so you must stop micromanaging your staff immediately. Being too overbearing can stifle their confidence and creativity. They feel under the microscope and are terrified of making a mistake. By standing back, you let them explore their potential and perform their best work since they started at your company. 

Give Them Chances to Progress 

You can also give your employees the option to progress and boost their professional and Personal Development. Giving employees the chance to take on more responsibility, such as management roles or even taking a First Aid and CPR course can give them the tools they need to excel in their roles and become valuable members of the team. Paying for these courses can add incentive, as it shows you’re behind them all the way. If all goes well, your investment will pay off for you and your company as much as it does for the employee. 

Encourage Communication 

Any successful business operates through exceptional communication. Without it, your team will never gel properly, and no one seems to know what the other is doing. Identifying effective communication strategies for your team can change this and push your office in the right direction. Besides regular communication methods such as online chats like Slack, you should also focus on the importance of respectful communication. Employees who provide constructive criticism can offer new perspectives, which could help their coworkers approach projects differently and more successfully. 

Reward Efforts 

Rewarding efforts is an excellent way to boost employee confidence and empower them to believe in themselves. Most of the time, confidence is crucial for a successful employee and yields fantastic results from projects or studies. If you show your employees you appreciate their efforts through rewards, such as financial benefits or prizes, you will cultivate a more engaged culture. Other employees will recognize these achievements, improve their work, and may even explore other opportunities within your company. 

Fluid

A fluid workplace brings multiple benefits to any organization. You don’t need to wait around for one person to work on something because everyone has the skills and knowledge to take on projects. This can enhance productivity and boost employee confidence, making everyone on your team more capable and propelling your business.

Originally Published on https://www.breakfastleadership.com/

Michael Levitt Chief Burnout Officer

Michael D. Levitt is the founder & Chief Burnout Officer of The Breakfast Leadership Network, a San Diego and Toronto-based burnout consulting firm. He is a Keynote speaker on The Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting and Burnout. He is the host of the Breakfast Leadership show, a Certified NLP and CBT Therapist, a Fortune 500 consultant, and author of his latest book BURNOUT PROOF.