By Brianna Van Zanten, VP of Customer Success — Incheq
Being a manager is difficult. Not only are you responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the business and the productivity of those who report directly to you, but your job function often includes some sort of larger scope.
Managers are often involved in strategic decision-making for the whole company and other initiatives, like expansion. Juggling both the big picture and supervisory responsibilities can be difficult, even for the most seasoned managers.
One of the most difficult challenges that many employers face is how to approach distance supervision. We are so used to a “watchdog” culture where managers constantly maintain a physical presence over their reports that we fail to see the negative impacts it has on workplace culture and productivity. When a workplace is structured around this type of supervision, it signals distrust and promotes “performative productivity” over tangible results.
Balancing accountability and autonomy
Instead, the much more desirable approach to workforce management is to balance accountability and autonomy. Although it is important to ensure that productivity is high — deliverables must be received, after all — workers can be given a level of autonomy in how they achieve this productivity. In other words, measure outcomes, not processes, and this is exactly what a good task management system should do.
Modern task management solutions help ensure worker accountability by streamlining and making workflows more transparent. For example, these platforms offer clear task ownership by assigning certain duties to specific individuals, removing ambiguity about who is responsible for what. They also offer real-time visibility into project status as they progress and are completed, eliminating the need for micromanagement and obtrusive check-ins.
One of the advantages of this approach is its adaptability to a broad range of task types. Businesses across a variety of industries, from manufacturing and industrial settings to retail and even healthcare, can take advantage of the productivity benefits of improved task management. And with newly automated processes, workers can click one button, and the entire workflow is adjusted as necessary, from their interface to the manager’s dashboard.
That said, for a task management system to be effective, it must be easy to adopt. If using a task management system feels like a burden to employees, like another hoop they have to jump through in addition to their core job duties, it’s not a useful tool, and employees might not even use it.
The best task management systems are easily integrated into existing workflows. By using features such as push notifications, QR code scanning, and beacon-based functionality, task management systems can make their platforms more usable and convenient for workers.
How task management systems help managers better focus their time
For managers, this extra degree of convenience can mean greater levels of flexibility. Managers no longer have to be chained to their desks for every hour their employees are working, and, better yet, they can make themselves more available to their employees. Rather than constantly supervising output, managers become resources that their employees can turn to when they need assistance or even have suggestions.
When supervisors are no longer acting as “watchdogs” overseeing task management, they can focus on a variety of other functions that help their employees and the business as a whole. One of the biggest opportunities that leaders have in this new paradigm is to encourage growth.
Instead of focusing on how employees are completing their tasks, spend time on how you can empower them to do their jobs better. Invest in opportunities such as workforce development and other initiatives that help employees feel more comfortable and empowered to do their best work.
While it is understandable that managers are often concerned about employee productivity, constant supervision is rarely the best way to foster true productivity in the workforce. Instead, success as a leader is about empowering your employees with the tools they need to succeed.
When it comes to issues like accountability and productivity, the tool that a worker needs is a task management platform, that helps them take control of their own productivity while remaining visible to management.
— Brianna Van Zanten passionately combines her love for meaningful connections, her academic background in user experience and human behaviors, and her devotion to service. As a Black female in the tech world, she aspires to be recognized not only as an advocate for diversity and inclusion but also as a future mentor for young professionals like herself. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and pursued her studies in Cognitive Science and Psychology at Case Western Reserve University. During her college years, Van Zanten also seized the opportunity to play soccer, which ignited her passion for coaching. Currently, she coaches three youth travel soccer teams, a journey that has further fueled her love for mentoring and developing young players.
