No one-size-fits-all approach to right staff balance

OVERSTAFFING can be detrimental to a business as it places strain on company resources. But understaffing can also be just as harmful and cause inadequate output. Given that different businesses have different staffing requirements, a cut-and-paste approach is not recommended. Instead, follow these simple tips to get your staff balance just right.

Analysis

Before all else, evaluate the staffing needs of the business.this will require a clear analysing of the workload to see what different roles and varying skillsets the business needs to achieve its goals.

Descriptions

Before employing staff, carefully outline each role and interview potential employees against this guide. Lack of competency can cost the company as it might require two or more people to cover for one person’s job.

Growth

After determining the staffing needs, look at when they may change. This will allow you the foresight to hire ahead of time, before the workload becomes too burdensome for the existing team.

Outsourcing

A good way to avoid overstaffing is bringing in freelancers or outsourcing to consultants for really busy periods or for projects. That way you bring in the skills you need only when you need them.

Satisfaction

Don’t overstretch staff. While understaffing may naturally occur at times, be careful not to stretch your team to fill staffing gaps for too long. This runs the risk of workers becoming exhausted, frustrated and disengaged, which could leave you with bigger issues on your hands.

Communication

Speak to the right people. Those who are closest to the team will know when something is amiss, so make sure to keep open communication channels with your staff. Keeping your ear to the ground will help you to know when staffing changes need to be made.

Legislation

Know the law. Employee contracts and local employment laws can make it quite tricky to let go of staff, so make sure to read the fine print and adhere to the labour laws. The decision to hire is always a very serious one with long-term effects.

Mobility

Make better use of existing employees. Before looking to hire new staff for senior positions, consider providing promotional and lateral opportunities for current employees. In addition to keeping employees motivated by seeing career progression is possible, hiring from within the business also helps to solve possible staffing issues as it is often most difficult to fill the more senior roles.