Getting the Job Done: Best Practices for Deadlines and Goals

If you’re a hiring manager, you certainly know how challenging it can be to find the right person for the position you’re trying to fill. Time and time again, you’ve brought onto your team qualified, talented people with a wealth of background experience in their selected fields. Yet, once they start working, you notice something is amiss. 

Perhaps deadlines just aren’t being met or the employee does great work but doesn’t get enough done. Maybe tasks that should take a handful of hours to complete turn into long, drawn-out projects. While these issues can definitely be troubling, in most cases the solution to these problems can be something as simple as setting the right goals and deadlines.

Often times, the biggest obstacle for new employees to overcome is getting a good grip on how long it takes to complete particular tasks. While they have experience dealing with the tasks you’re assigning them, it’s important to remember that every company handles deadlines and goals differently. 

The next time you see your new employee is having trouble getting things done, try the following:

Make Instructions Abundantly Clear 

Sometimes an employee may not realize how complicated a task actually is and could end up missing deadlines due to not prioritizing correctly. If you feel that a project or assignment is fairly complex, you will want to make your instructions as clear as possible. This results in fewer questions for you later and a more thorough understanding of the task for the worker.

Set Realistic Deadlines

 

Setting deadlines can be tricky, especially when you are dealing with a new hire. Try to remember that a new employee will need a little extra time to get through tasks as he or she is still learning what’s expected of him or her. Try not to set tight deadlines initially unless absolutely necessary.

Set Milestones and Goals to Encourage Growth

A popular way to get employees to develop the right behaviors is through setting goals and milestones. You should always take time to meet with your new employee to agree on goals for their development. Many managers use this as an opportunity to correct poor behaviors, like being unpunctual or to further develop core strengths, such as attention to detail. 

 

By using the above behaviors, any manager can help improve the effectiveness of their new hires. However, should you find that these techniques are not working you may want to contact a staffing agency to help you find a more efficient employee.

If you and your company are in need of premier staffing solutions, contact us at J & J Staffing Resources today.