Know workers’ personalities to guide you on how to reward them

Employers must take the time to know their employees and interact with them. Image/FILE   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By CATHY MPUTHIA

In Summary

• Put in place sound legal mechanisms like employee contracts.
• If you find your business having a high turnover you should seriously look into your HR policies because this is an indicator that something is wrong.
• One of the most important things that HR consultants advice businesses to do is a personality test which also serves as a guide to what motivates employees.

Human resource is the biggest asset in an organisation and especially if they have the required skills.

Every business should invest more on its employees. Many businesses handle their employees haphazardly leading to demotivation, disloyalty and a high turnover. If you find your business having a high turnover you should seriously look into your HR policies because this is an indicator that something is wrong.

The days when the employer was viewed as the master and the employee as the slave are long gone. The truth is that demand for labour especially skilled labour is high and your business must manage its HR well if it’s to attract and maintain employees. Its either that most businesses do not understand the importance of their employees as a resource or even if they do, they assume that they have better bargaining power than their employees.

However, studies have shown that a business that manages its workers well out performs its competitors that do not. Even businesses that have a HR department still fail to manage this resource well...if anything the HR department is viewed as the disciplinary committee of such businesses.

HR managers have become very intimidating and arrogant due to the misconception that they call the shots. If you are nice to them you keep your job, if not they will find ways to edge you out. This should not be the case. One of the ways a business can manage its employees well is by ensuring that they are motivated to work and try to satisfy their needs.

Every employee’s needs differ however Maslow’s hierarchy of needs classifies them according to the rank of the employee. As an employee rises in his ranks then his needs change. Some people work only to meet their basic needs and such a person does not really care if he is recognised or not. Other people who have met their basic needs, require more than a pay cheque from the organisation.

Maybe they require to handle more challenging tasks or opportunities to lead. For such an employee, a promotion would be in order. Some employees have alternative sources of income and it is not so much about the cheque but things such as job satisfaction and recognition.

Employers must take the time to know their employees and interact with them on an individual level. One of the most important things that HR consultants advice businesses to do is a personality test which also serves as a guide to what motivates employees.

Studies have shown that if an employee’s personality does not fit with their job description then they will not be motivated at all.

For example a sanguine (outgoing) cannot survive detail- oriented tasks like accounting so such a person is better placed in marketing. On the other hand a phlegmatic (introvert) cannot survive in the marketing department. Therefore, you should match your employee’s skills to their personalities as a way to keep them loyal and motivated.

Some legal tools to motivate your employees include having sound employee contracts, human resource policies and reward mechanisms.