10 Ways to Maintain IT Productivity While Hiring
The economy has picked up – and so has your workload. The good news is that you’re doing well enough to hire more IT staff. The bad news is that it takes time to find the right person for the job. Here’s how to keep your overworked staff going strong until you can make that hire.
1) Be there for them. Now, more than ever, is the time to be an effective manager. You may be busy sorting resumes and interviewing candidates, but you still need to be available to support, guide and cheerlead your existing employees.
2) Consider cross-training. Training current employees on each other’s jobs opens up a lot of options when staff is stretched thin; you can easily shift workers around depending on need. It also helps staffers understand what it takes to do the other’s work, increasing empathy and efficiency.
3) Keep communicating. Don’t keep your staff in the dark about your hiring efforts. Stressed-out employees are more likely to hang in there without despair if they know you are working hard to find them qualified help, so provide regular updates on the process.
4) Use technology. This is a great time to see if there’s any software or hardware available that can lighten your staff’s load. Any increases in streamlining or efficiency can help improve both morale and productivity.
5) Do some outsourcing. If there’s no technology that can help ease the burden, consider bringing in a short-term contractor or two. The easiest way to do this is to find a specialized IT staffing agency, who will have an up-to-date list of pre-screened talent readily available.
6) Set priorities. When a department is short-staffed, it’s vital that both managers and employees remember the differences between “urgent”, “important” and “can wait”. Learning to give the proper things the proper amount of attention in the proper order can reduce stress and improve output.
7) Work as a team. When resources are scarce, people tend to get protective and territorial. Team-building efforts can reduce this instinct and encourage employees to pull together to get things done.
8) Set specific goals. Determine what things are realistic to accomplish while you are understaffed. Include employees in the discussion – their buy-in is critical to success.
9) Create a plan. Once you have established goals, you need to create a roadmap for achieving them. Determine who is responsible for what items, and how everyone will communicate. Once again, it’s crucial that you include your employees in the process.
10) Stay relaxed. Management sets the tone for the rest of the department. If you are stressed and irritable, you can expect your employees to be the same. A tense atmosphere can also drive away good job candidates. Acknowledge the challenges, but focus on maintaining a positive attitude while you are trying to hire.
Whether you need short-term help, or a long-term hire, Triumph Services can deliver top-notch, qualified IT professionals who can immediately contribute. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
