Effective Warehouse Leadership Skills
While some believe that the Great Resignation won’t last long, November of 2021 still saw 4.5 million resignations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it’s important to note that people don’t quit their jobs; they quit their managers. As Forbes writes, “The ‘Great Resignation’ is a sort of workers’ revolution and uprising against bad bosses and tone-deaf companies.” Employees are looking to work for people who care about their well-being and listen to their suggestions. They want to work in a company that has a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, with opportunities for career advancement. So how can managers address these concerns and refine their leadership practices for the modern workplace? Try using some of these techniques.
Communicating effectively
Effective communication is essential for maintaining warehouse productivity, but it’s equally important in fostering a happy, healthy workforce. This means outlining clear objectives for your employees and providing them with the necessary tools to complete their work. Additionally, it’s critical to communicate with employees one-on-one to ensure they’re satisfied in their position and address any concerns they may have.
Nobody wants to be treated unfairly or shut down while trying to speak up. By keeping an open-door policy and taking the time to truly listen to your employees, you show them that they are a valued part of the company. This, in turn, motivates your team to not only work harder but stay with the company long term.
Establishing incentives for employees
Warehousing positions can be pretty demanding at times, which is one of the reasons why the industry has such a high turnover rate. Many warehouse workers resign because they want better treatment, different opportunities or simply because they don’t feel their paychecks represent the value they bring. As more Gen Zers enter the workforce, they increasingly demand better career advancement opportunities.
To deal with shifting employee attitudes, warehouse managers must take proactive steps to incentivize potential employees and retain their current talent. This might include sign-on bonuses for new hires or improving the benefits package across the board. If your company has the means, increasing salaries is an excellent way to both attract and retain an enthusiastic workforce.
Cultivating a positive company culture
A warehouse’s culture has a significant impact on every aspect of the workplace, from the company’s bottom line to employee satisfaction. Maintaining a positive environment can do wonders for your productivity, but it also mitigates the risk of workers jumping ship. As previously mentioned, listening to and communicating with your employees helps foster a comfortable work culture, but managers can take this a step further.
When employees put in a hard day’s work, a little recognition goes a long way in improving their overall morale. Offering rewards for outstanding performance can also energize your workforce and encourage healthy competition that ultimately boosts efficiency. Remember that collaboration creates a community, so don’t pit employees against one another. Instead, acknowledge individual accomplishments as they relate to the team effort.
By following these simple techniques, managers can continue to improve their leadership skills while combating the Great Resignation and traditionally high turnover rates in the warehouse industry.