Frontline’s 5 tips to managing a successful team

It used to be that your employees went to work, did their jobs and then went home. And if they really hated it, there wasn’t much they could do about it – short of trying to find a new job.

But the world of work is changing, and initiatives like International Happiness at Work Week are raising awareness of just how important it is for employees to feel happy on the job.

Especially if they work hard, and do long hours – like so many employees in Education jobs, Hospitality careers, Health roles and other industries.

According to research, Australians are some of the hardest working people in the developed world, with 1 in 10 employees working more than 50 hours per week. Meanwhile, other research has found we spend around 90,000 hours of our lives at work.

That means, as a manager, you have a great deal of time with your employees – and there’s a certain responsibility in your role to support your staff and create a resilient, happy workforce.

Neglecting to do this can impact your team’s productivity and morale. It might also affect your retention rates and make it difficult for you to fill a job vacancy – or keep existing staff.

So here are our tips on how to manage a successful team – and keep them happy to boot.

1. Facilitate learning and professional development (PD)

According to our Feel Good Index Report 2022, the ability to learn on the job – and have training and education supported financially by the company – is a key reason why people feel happier at work. Your team gets to work on their skills and talents and future-proof their careers, which is empowering in industries that are changing at breakneck speed. As a bonus, companies that invest in PD usually have a more loyal workforce. It’s a win-win.

2. Be a good leader – whether you’re in Construction, Healthcare or IT

Good leadership is universal across every industry – and it’s the number one thing job-seekers want, studies show. A good leader is supportive, understanding and a natural problem-solver. You’ll work with your team to set goals, be there when they need help, and acknowledge that they have a life outside of work. (This last one is important – as it may involve offering schedule flexibility to make their lives easier). You’ll also champion your team’s ideas, celebrate their successes – and make sure individual achievements are recognised, too.

3. Show a commitment to workplace wellbeing

Covid has taken its toll on all of us, but our research shows the younger generations have suffered the most when it comes to physical and mental wellbeing. That can manifest as stress, burn-out, and overwhelm – and it’s up to you as a manager to pinpoint issues with your team and ensure they have access to resources that may help them cope better. A successful team will feel supported at work – and feel like they can talk to their manager about what’s going on for them, so an open-door policy is essential as well.

4. Facilitate collaboration

A team who can successfully collaborate will be more productive, bring more diverse ideas to the table – and even solve problems faster. Studies show it can also strengthen your company culture and bond your team in working towards shared goals. In our Feel Good Index Report, all generations who participated said that ‘working collaboratively’ was important to them.

5. Don’t micro-manage your staff!

Ask any employee: having a manager who micromanages your work and is breathing down your neck all the time is a fast-track to unhappiness at work. And this bears out in our research and other studies. The ability to work autonomously and be trusted to get the job done in a way that suits that employee is key to feeling content and empowered at work. So if you’re the kind of manager that struggles with letting go, that’s definitely something to work on.

Frontline Recruitment Group is here to support managers like you

Whether you’re looking for Hospitality or Retail staff or you are recruiting people for Health, Education, Construction or Finance careers, we are here to for you. You can contact us here to find out how we can help.

If you want more insights on managing a successful team and keeping them happy at work? Our 2022 Frontline Feel Good Index Report is available now!