EMPLOYEE TASK MANAGEMENT ADVICE

You hire, train, manage, motivate and, ultimately, fire your employees. Their performance is on you. Next time you go to complain, first ask: what could I have done as leader to avoid this?

SET EXPECTATIONS BY SHIFT.

Key to good management and leadership is good communication. In a retail situation, good communication starts with setting expectations.

People forget. This is why a checklist is helpful in guiding the tasks you want completed.

It is important to be specific in your delegation – setting tasks for specific people rather than listing generally what you want done.

It is also important to be transparent, so everyone working on any given day knows what is to be done that day. Consider posting the list on a noticeboard or have the sheets in a clipboard at the counter for all to see.

Do not list on here things to keep people busy as they will see through it and be half-hearted. List what is important to the business, tasks against which you will judge your team members.

The more consistent and structured your setting and communication of tasks for and to your team members the easier it is for them to follow your direction and for you to you to measure their performance.

Tips for a good employee task checklist.

1. Be clear and concise. Ensure that your directions are understood.
2. Where appropriate, explain why, why a task will benefit the business.
3. Fairly allocate tasks across the people working on any given day.

On the following page is a checklist you can use as a template. It is in a format you can easily change to serve your needs.

TODAY’S TASKS: September 9, 2017

ALLOCATED TO: John Smith

Please tick off each task once it is completed. Ask if you are not sure what is required or if you have any other questions. The tasks are listed in order of priority.

• Shop floor. Walk from the entrance to the shop to the back and up and down each aisle. Look for stock out of place. Tidy and ensure the walk-ways are clear. Repeat this every hour.
• Remove everything from the counter. Thoroughly clean and replace everything, thoughtfully - from the customer perspective.
• Spinners. Rotate each to a new location.
• Counter stock.
  • Check that we have enough paper bags of each size at the counter.
  • Check that we have a spare receipt roll ready for each printer.
• In the last hour of your shift, empty the bins into a large garbage bag and dispose of.
• In the last 30 minutes of your shift.
  • Ensure the bag is empty.
  • Vacuum behind the counter.
  • Vacuum the entire shop floor – but keep an eye on the counter while doing this.
  • Empty the bag.
  • Place the vacuum cleaner back in its usual location.