I once reviewed an email from a job candidate that read: “We should talk, as I’m sure you would be unimpressed.” Yikes! I felt sorry for that candidate. The person made a poor impression and didn’t make it further in the interview process, but I had to wonder if this candidate also had too much on his or her plate.
We’ve all been there. You overcommit, burn the candle at both ends, sacrifice sleep. Suddenly your brain is fuzzy. You can’t focus. Everyone on your team has been there, too. Chances are, during this busy time of year for florists, someone on your team is there now.
How can you help your team through overload and overwhelm?
Stay informed. Before you ask someone to take on an additional task, understand what is already on your employee’s plate, including specific time frames and due dates and projects given to them by others on the team.
Talk to your employees. Tell employees that they can ask for help prioritizing or completing a project. Train them to ask for that help in a timely manner — in other words, not at the eleventh hour, when it may be too late for you to respond or help.
Be real. You know that a “20-minute” project may take 45 minutes. Set yourself and your team up for success by using real time frames, not impossible goals.
Glenna Hecht, SPHR, is a speaker, trainer, consultant and contributing writer for Floral Management.