SEEK Research Report |
1/3 candidates feel they need more support to overcome work problems or assistance breaking down problems. Employees are looking for four main types of help to solve problems at work: – Support from co-workers (56%) SEEK’s Resident Psychologist Sabina Read recommends managers set up regular opportunities for peer-to-peer sharing, socialising and learning. “Frequency can help build connections, trust and friendships, which all help to increase support”. – Training and coaching sessions (34%) Training and coaching sessions “Be transparent about organisational goals, mission and values so individuals and teams are clear about the goal posts guiding work and outcomes. People who feel clarity and purpose in their role are more likely to support others”. Invite employees to source their own training and coaching from a range of preferred suppliers, this can help garner a sense of ownership and self-agency, which tends to increase engagement. – More time to work through problems (36%) Problem solving takes time. It’s important to create an environment where employees feel that they can ask for more time and where managers recognise when employees may need additional time to address challenges.“It’s better cultivated by allowing time and space to problem solve, both individually and collectively, across teams and within teams”. – Frameworks for decision making (33%) Donna McGeorge, an author and consultant specialising in workplace effectiveness and leadership suggests four key steps in helping employees approach challenges: 1. Sleep on it or take a break “Give your employee’s brain a chance to ‘reboot’ overnight as things always seem clearer in the morning.” 2. Identify and break down the problem “Often a problem feels bigger than it is, so breaking it down into tasks, sub-tasks and sub-sub tasks makes it more manageable.” 3. Assess how much energy, attention and focus it requires “When we do things is as important as what we are doing” 4. Have an image of the problem “Close your eyes and ‘see’ the problem in your head, now make it smaller or move it further away.” |