As a new manager, it’s not uncommon to take on the old habits of the previous manager. Even though you are learning, it’s important to stamp your style on the role, and that all begins with the little things.
Rostering can be a tricky task to master in the early days, but it’s also a great place to bring your own style to your new position.
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If you’re a new manager and looking for a way to make your mark, use this guide to rostering for new managers.
Be smarter
Rostering can be an incredibly manual task for any manager. Even if you use computer-based programs like Excel, it can take hours to set up and perfect. As a new manager, you want to be spending your time on the things that matter, not staring at a computer screen.
If you check out the time clock app by Deputy, you’ll find using roster scheduling software can change the process for the better. Roster scheduling software and apps are the best way to automate the rostering process.
By entering a few data points, preferences, and any other relevant business data, the software can build you a roster that is optimized for your business. This will free up time for you to focus on building relationships with your new team.
Create efficiency
As a new manager, when you hear the words ‘rostering’ or ‘scheduling’, you’re probably thinking it’s just about matching employees to time slots. That can be true if all you want is to know someone will be at work. Adding in a task-based roster management process can make your rosters so much more.
Assigning tasks to employees through your roster not only creates accountability, but it makes the shift much more efficient. Employees will no longer spend the first half an hour of their shift trying to work out what to do. They will know what is expected of them from the get-go, thanks to your new rostering approach.
Be aware
Being a manager means leading and dealing with tough situations. You will quickly learn that being all places at once just isn’t possible, so being aware of staff behavior can be tough. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be the case when rostering. Don’t wait to find out a staff member was late the following week after it happened.
Using features like live tracking, you can see clock-in and clock-out times for your employees and address each issue if and when it happens. Knowing whether they were on time, took the right amount of breaks and when they finish will help inform you about the performers in your team and the staff you may need to coach a little more.
Don’t do all the heavy lifting
Technology has come a long way, which means as a new manager you don’t have to rely on your memory anymore. Gone are the days of asking staff to tell you their availability for the next month and trying to either remember it or have to write it down.
Using a rostering app will mean your staff has access to let you know their availability from their very own device. Not only will this make the process more accurate and reliable, but it also improves the experience for everyone. Staff feel in control if something changes and you have access to up-to-date availability.
Rostering can be just one tricky task out of many for a new manager. It’s a task that can be turned from enemy to ally very quickly, though. Through utilizing technology, you can make rostering a lot simpler in your new management position.
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