A productive business is one that is able to manufacture quality
products effectively and at low
cost…correct? In reality, a productive
business is also one that’s able to manufacture quality products effectively
while improving overall employee
morale. Unhappy employees can be just as damaging to a business’ bottom-line as
bad products or processes.
In addition to hurt productivity, poor employee morale can ultimately lead
to turnover. The time and resources used to recruit and train new team members
can be better invested elsewhere. This is why it’s critical to constantly
improve your company culture – Lean Six Sigma and employee engagement
initiatives can help!
Communication is Key
Communication is critical for any quality manufacturer to foster. If your employees don’t understand your
product or your business’ goals, they’re more likely to make mistakes or errors
that can cost you and your company in the long-term.
It is extremely effective for any business to communicate their
goals—present and future, concrete and abstract—to all of their employees right
from the beginning. The longer an employee
goes without understanding the company they work for, the less likely they’ll
feel engaged and connected to your business.
Harvard Business Review reported that 95% of employees don’t understand or don’t know
their business’ strategy. Communicating this information will put you a step
above your competitors who are not doing the same thing.
How Lean Six Sigma Fosters
Communication
Lean is based on the premise of identifying waste in all areas of a
business, but this can only occur through
employee buy-in. Lean principles are unique because positive changes are driven
by employees at all levels, not just management. This cultivates staff who are
constantly looking for ways to identify and remove non-value added activities.
Lean Six Sigma is specifically designed to improve employee buy-in and
communication.
The Power of Teamwork
Keeping your employees engaged and connected is also possible through
effective teamwork. Employees that have comfortable rapport with
each other have a higher morale and feel a deeper connection with their business.
Offering out-of-office team building and networking dinners can be a great
start to fostering deeper connections amongst your employees, and it is also
recommended to hold regular weekly or monthly meetings with employees from each
office or department.
Finally, the next best way to build employee engagement is through
teaching. You want to present yourself to your employees as the role model you
would want to be led by, and much of that involves communication, coordination
and patience. Employees respond better to managers who they believe they can
communicate with easily, and are more satisfied when they feel like their
thoughts and opinions are being heard.
If you’re looking to improve your
organization through Lean Six Sigma, click here for more
information.
Since 1991, MMTC has assisted
Michigan’s small and medium-sized businesses compete and grow. Through
personalized services fitted to meet the needs of clients, we develop more
effective business leaders, drive product and process innovation, promote
company-wide operational excellence and foster creative strategies for business
growth and greater profitability. Find us at www.mmtc.org.
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