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Please note: This item is from our archives and was published in 2007. It is provided for historical reference. The content may be out of date and links may no longer function.
Showing the Way A small firm can’t operate efficiently if workers are constantly asking similar questions, circumventing problems or forwarding inquiries to the higher-ups.
Make sure your employees have enough knowledge to make decisions and solve problems on their own:
Organize an orientation session in which you answer the most frequently asked questions and walk employees through the preferred ways of solving common problems at your firm.
Provide workers with the history behind procedures and policies. Background information is essential for making good decisions.
Furnish the necessary resources, whether it’s a list of client contacts, knowledge of the appropriate forms or even sharp pencils.
Give workers a place to turn when they can’t solve problems on their own. They should be able to consult a manual or a designated experienced colleague instead of always knocking on the president’s door.
Learn to delegate. Handing off certain tasks will build employee confidence and help others learn the necessary steps to follow.
The September Technology Q&A column shows how to create dynamic to-do lists with Excel's checkboxes and also how to set up multifactor authentication texts that don't rely on phones. Flip through both items and view a video walkthrough in our digital format.
