As the year comes to a close, it’s crucial for managers to assess their staffing needs.
Why? Maybe an assessment will reveal that staffing levels simply need to be maintained. Or, an assessment could reveal that levels need to be adjusted. Either way, conducting an assessment is a helpful at year end exercise that makes sure your company is getting the most out of it labor investment.
If you are gearing up to look back at the year it was and look ahead to the coming new year, consider the following essentials for conducting a staffing assessment.
Identify General Areas of Strength and Weakness
Every staff has strengths and weaknesses that can be broadly defined. The weaknesses may be more apparent because they show up as daily or weekly challenges. Areas of strength may be harder to identify but naming them is a valuable exercise.
Be sure to engage staff members when identifying general areas of strength and weakness. Your employees have a boots-on-the-ground perspective that management doesn’t. Engaging employees in your annual review makes them feel heard, and increases employee buy-in for the coming year.
Figuring out where your staff is the strongest could reveal excessive staffing levels or staff members who could be flexed into different roles so as to address weaknesses. Strengths and weaknesses will shift over the course of time. This is especially true if there has been significant turnover or key employees leave.
Review Specific Progress
Now is the time to review the goals you set over the course of the year. Using performance data, quantify progress toward company goals and determine if staffing levels were in alignment in trying to meet them. While conversations about strengths and weaknesses can give you a general sense of your staffing needs for the new year, drilling down on performance data helps to align the perception with the reality. Reviewing specific progress also ensures that you’re not overlooking any glaring needs.
Define Goals for the New Year
After looking at the year that was, it’s time to look ahead to the coming new year with an eye toward staffing levels. Set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound — otherwise known as SMART goals. Try to balance short term production our customer service goals, with long term growth objectives. Determine if your current staffing levels can achieve these goals and look for any shortcomings.
Identify Solutions
When it comes time to identify solutions for the new year, the assessment of your staffing needs should come full circle. Identifying general areas of strength and weakness can help you determine if your current staff is the right size and has the necessary capabilities. It might be necessary to bring in additional full time or temporary staff. It also might be necessary to train existing employees so they can take on new responsibilities.
A knowledgeable staffing partner can be a very valuable resource when it comes to identifying solutions. In the Triad Region, local staffing agencies are particularly helpful because they understand both local the industries and the labor markets.
Key Resources Can Help Your Company Thrive in the New Year!
Our team of talent acquisition experts has significant experience when it comes to helping industrial facilities right-size their staffing levels. Contact us today to request talent and get a head start on next year’s success.
