Managing Your Staff's Work / Play Balance

Whenever we think about "time management", we refer it to ourselves and our own time. It's rare that we consider how the tables might turn where you have to manage other people's time. After all, they should do it themselves, right? Not always so. If you're a manager or have staff to look after, you must be able to manage the work that they're given, to prioritise and make time for, and then also consider other time-consuming but important tasks, like team building for morale, or setting time aside for one to ones and team meetings.

The work / play balance

Most people expect to come to work, do their 9 to 5 hours and then go home again, without much in between apart from a (sometimes rushed) lunch break. Whilst it's easy to let your staff go through the motions like this, it doesn't do much for their morale. Before you even consider managing your staff's time, check for symptoms of bad time management within your team. Is there someone who seems to be always staying late - are they over keen, or are they struggling with the workload? Have you noticed a staff member is sending work related emails out of hours or at weekends, so they're tempted to log in from home for a similar reason? These can all be symptoms of either bad time management or that your staff are being worked too hard (especially if it's more than a couple of them - that should be a big red flag).

You should make time in your own schedule (and theirs) to meet and talk to your staff often. Feedback is not always given voluntarily, it's more often coaxed. Group and peer pressure can also inhibit a really quality meeting where your staff tell you what they truly think and feel, so make sure you have time to schedule one to ones with them, and not just for their annual appraisal, which isn't always the most enjoyable of events. If you are seen to be making an effort of listening to feedback often and acting on it, it will improve office morale.

Another thing that you, and not your staff, should make time for are extra activities. Yes, fun plays a part in the office! How about an icebreaker for a new member of staff - like a team lunch or drinks after work as a non formal introduction? Employees are sometimes loathe to suggest such things (even if they really want them) in case it looks like they are encouraging others to slack. It's not slacking, it's team building. The same goes for allowing your staff time to perhaps watch a bit of a World Cup match at work - if you can all manage the time to do it, then it prevents people lying and taking sick days (which, according to the statistics, does happen a lot during major sport tournaments).

Even if you do have a relaxed, fun and flexible office - remember that there are times when time itself is at a premium. Perhaps you've all got a major project deadline, or a big senior management event. If you've looked after the work/play balance for your staff all year round, they are much more likely to give of their time - and effort - when you really need it.