Know Your Employee

Figure 01: Performance Management (hrkatha, 2017)

Knowing your employees well leads to a positive work culture. Employees who know each other well are less likely to fight and criticize one another. Conflicts and misunderstandings not only degrade the atmosphere in the workplace, but they also raise people's stress levels. (Juneja, n.d)

Employers cannot be good supervisors and maintain a professional relationship with every employee unless they make an effort to get to know them. They could be excellent teachers and technical experts. They may hold regular meetings with employees in order to keep everyone up to date. However, the human element is all too often missing. Supervisors frequently overlook the importance of getting to know their employees as individuals. Great workplace leaders are aware of this. It forges bonds that enable your organization to solve big problems, face big challenges, and achieve extraordinary results from a diverse range of people. (Saviroff, 2013)

10 Simple Ways To Get To Know Your Employees Better

1. Play Games

Spend an afternoon playing cards or board games. Reserve a conference room or go off-site to play games, socialize, and have fun with your colleagues. Some good work and non-work-related conversations are unavoidable. Remember the fun and interesting things you learn and incorporate them into employee recognition, nicknames, and so on. (Decker, 2018)

2. Manage Like A Mentor

You must manage like a mentor to get to know your employees better. You can have a different relationship with your employees if you use mentorship. The employee will perceive you as a thought leader, someone who cares about their career, and they will feel more supported as a result. They will be inspired to share more with you thanks to your trusted guidance. Mentoring will keep them motivated while you lead with intention. (Newell, 2018)

3. Ask Everyone The Same Question And Listen Carefully To Their Answers

Getting to know your coworkers becomes more difficult as you advance in your career. Try to learn just one thing about each of your employees. Decide what you want to know and ask everyone the same question, such as, "What did you want to be when you were 10?" Alternatively, "What do you enjoy doing?" Then listen very carefully. (Potts, 2018)

4. Have Lunch With Them

Breaking bread with your team and listening to what those doing the majority of the work are thinking is critical to establishing leadership presence. Don't order a sandwich just to be able to sit in your office. Go to the cafeteria and ask if you can join the loudest, most energetic table for lunch. They are most likely your organization's influencers and would value your presence greatly. (Dana, 2018)

5. Hold Town Hall Sessions

Leaders should hold regular town hall meetings to communicate the company's vision, goals, strategies, and plans to their employees. They should be open and honest about the business's direction and how it will affect employees, both positively and negatively. Employees should also be able to ask questions and express concerns. (Dasimaka, 2018)

6. Be Authentic And Vulnerable With Them

To build trust and discover what truly motivates and drives people, you must be authentic and willing to be vulnerable. Many leaders believe they must live two lives: one inside the office walls and another when they walk out the door. You must lead with your authentic self if you want to inspire others to do their best work. Tell us about your passion, experience, and story. (Mallen, 2018)

7. Have Staff Members Re-Introduce Themselves At Meetings

We encourage a current staff member to introduce another current staff member at staff meetings, providing five new things we didn't know about them despite working with them. It's a fantastic approach to re-engage employees and remind them that there's always something new to learn. (Hunt, 2018)

8. Attend Company Social Gatherings

Company leaders are busy for a reason: they have a lot of duties. Time spent getting to know employees on a personal level, on the other hand, is invaluable. Attending events such as business celebrations and team-building exercises should be a priority for leaders. This shows employees that the company's management care about their well-being, not just the profit line. (Feldmann, 2018)

9. Encourage Two-Way Dialogue In Company Communications

If leaders create platforms that encourage two-way communication, they will learn to know their staff. Organizations frequently confuse notification with communication. Providing employees with a venue to communicate their thoughts, opinions, and concerns is the most successful form of communication within firms. Town halls, one-on-ones, and polls are excellent ways to achieve this. (Thomas, 2018)

10. Work Alongside Them

Pushing up your sleeves and working side by side with your coworkers is the finest approach to get to know them. Most employees like talking about what they do and how they do it, but they may not have many opportunities to do so. Get out of the office and get to know your coworkers and your job. Allow your colleagues to inform you about their work and show them that you care. What are the chances? You might even discover something new. (Gonzalez-Pitek, 2018)

The Bottom Line

The workforce is required to deliver the company's goods or services. As a result, improving employee performance and efficiency is a top priority. Skilled employees who understand how a company works are hard to come by, and much harder to replace.




References

ManagementStudyGuide (n.d) Importance of Knowing Employees [Online] 
Available from <https://www.managementstudyguide.com/role-of-communication-in-knowing-employees.htm>
[Accessed 14 April 2022]

Growingproduce (2013) The Advantages Of Knowing Your Employees [Online]
Available from <https://www.growingproduce.com/vegetables/the-advantages-of-knowing-your-employees/>
[Accessed 14 April 2022]

Forbes (2018) 10 Simple Ways To Get To Know Your Employees Better [Online] 
Available from <https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/03/05/10-simple-ways-to-get-to-know-your-employees-better/?sh=23f429234b97>
[Accessed 15 April 2022]

YouTube (2013) Why employee engagement matters [Online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSfDROxCuxI
[Accessed 15 April 2022]

Comments

  1. As discussed in this article, it is very important to know your employees as it will create a friendly work culture. There will be less misunderstandings and communication problems. There will be lower stress levels and increased employee engagement. This will result in higher productivity and lower staff turnover. Good article. All the Best Jaliya!

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    1. Thank you for your valuable feedback about this topic.

      Delete
  2. As you mentioned in this article , Knowing the staff well leads to a positive work environment. Employees who know each other well are less likely to fight and criticize one another. You have nicely point out the ways to get to Know the Employees Better. Nice piece of writing Jaliya. Good Luck!

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    Replies
    1. Appreciate your valuable feedback about this topic.

      Delete
  3. Knowing your employees is critical because it fosters a positive work environment. Misunderstandings and communication issues will be minimized. Employee engagement will be higher and stress levels will be lower. As a result, employee turnover will be reduced and productivity will increase. Excellent piece of writing.

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    Replies
    1. I agree with your comment. Thank you for posting.

      Delete
  4. Employees are definitely a company's greatest asset. A company can shine by the employees in it. So it's much important to know eachother colleague to work as a team. Good article well done

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  5. Knowing your employees is crucial to any organization. This can help the management of the organization to create a positive work culture within an organization as well as to identify more about the employees people under their management. For HR individuals, these information are crucial in creating better opportunities and training programs for their employees. Great article.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly, I agree with you. Thank you for providing your valuable ideas about this topic.

      Delete
  6. The relationship between manager and employee has also affected the employee's relationship with each other. Employees with a comfortable and happy job environment are more likely to get to know each other. All the best.

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    1. Thank you for providing your thoughts about this topic.

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