A successful service station depends on a high-functioning, confident, and independent team. So, the question is, how can you encourage these qualities in your staff?
Read on to discover six tips that you can use to foster independence in your employees and therefore strengthen your business.
1. Share information.
Team members should always have clarity when it comes to the tasks that they’re assigned to do. Include the purpose of the work, the length of the particular job, and the desired outcomes for an employee to experience optimum security in their role.
2. Remind them of their value.
It’s always nice to remind employees why you hired them. Make note of the special skills and assets that put them on the map for their position, as this will boost their confidence in their role at your service station.
3. Start small and increase your scale.
You can build confidence by starting employees out with small tasks that they can complete easily. The feeling of accomplishment allows your team to feel empowered enough to take on bigger and more challenging tasks independently.
4. Encourage thinking outside the box.
Proactive thinking skills can be taught to anyone. By pairing a less-experienced employee with a mentor who you have employed for a longer amount of time, the two will create a team of their own. The mentor can encourage the mentee to brainstorm and think independently before seeking help. When problems arise, this method of thinking will eventually become a knee-jerk reaction.
5. Celebrate growth that comes with mistakes.
Mistakes are always going to happen, and you can use them as an opportunity to celebrate growth and the evolving learning curve within your team. Take away any blame and negativity that may surround the art of mistake-making, and your team will feel emboldened to take more risks that could end in success.
6. Don’t hand-hold.
It’s your job to facilitate independence, so you must avoid micromanaging, nitpicking, or being overly controlling. Giving your team the space to be independent is key for them to stand on their own two feet.
Your Independent Team
With an independent team running your service station, you can spend less time spreading yourself too thin and, instead, delegate tasks to employees that can handle the responsibility. This lessens the load for everyone and spreads out duties, which makes for a service station that runs like a well-oiled machine.