Surveys show that one of the top concerns of frontline staff is direct contact with their supervisor or manager. One way to combat this concern is a very simple 12 minute tool for the manager’s toolbox. This tool helps managers build that time into their daily routine to avoid losing touch with people, programs and projects---especially when work gets extremely busy.
By structuring the time spent with staff, a manager/supervisor can ensure that all employees have direct contact with him/her. Setting a firm time is important. For example, each day before lunch from 11:48-12:00 (12 minutes) setting a meeting with a different member of the frontline staff. The time should be firm—12 minutes at the set hour. If there are 10 frontline employees, each employee could meet with their manager once every 10 days.
Once the 12-minute interview is part of the work place culture, managers will have greater control of their time. The frontline staff will keep note of questions, problems and issues that can be addressed during their regular interview, and they can ask for special meetings for more urgent or complex matters.
Talking regularly to frontline staff encourages each employee to contribute to the team effort. If managers invest time in their people, the work will be in much better hands.
