What drives a company forward? There are many answers to that question, but it’s hard to think of anything that’s more important than the company’s staff.

You could have two identical companies. You could provide one with a poorly assembled team, and one with a team of Grade A players. Within a few months or less, you would see huge disparities in output. So your staff is important. And as a leader, it’s up to you to make sure that they can deliver their best work. But how? We take a look at a few tried and tested methods below.

No Micromanaging

You could hire the best staff members possible, and still not see any results, if you were micromanaging them every step of the way. If you bring a person on board, then it’s imperative that you trust them enough to do their job well. It’s always important to keep in mind that when it comes to specialist positions, they will have more knowledge and expertise than you do, so let them get on with it. If you find this difficult, then improve your hiring process, and bring in better talent.

Freedom to Make Mistakes

It’s really not the number of mistakes that defines a person; it’s whether they suit up for challenges at all. If your staff are afraid to make mistakes because they think you’ll chew them out, then something is not right. They’ll end up just playing it safe, which is no great crime, but it’ll ultimately hold your business back. Let your staff take a few calculated risks every now and again — it may only sound like a risk to you; they could have things perfectly under control. Life’s not about staying in the safe lane!

The Right Infrastructure

If you’re going to expect great things from your employees, then you need to provide them with the tools that’ll help them to achieve this goal. You wouldn’t try to play a round of golf with broken clubs; don’t expect your staff to deliver the goods with outdated infrastructure. Make sure they have the right computers and software, and that your IT setup is stable — you can click here to find information about how a third-party IT company can help on this front. Keep in mind that “the right infrastructure” will extend beyond the company’s hardware and software, too. It’ll also include your office space, which should be bright, spacious, and clean; they’re the best conditions for work.

Support and Encouragement

Studies have shown that employees who feel valued and supported by their company work much better than those that don’t. So make sure that you’re going beyond simply business, and make sure that your staff is feeling good. If they’re fatigued, you can give them a break. You can organize trips to get to know one another better. You can ask about the families, their aspirations, and so on. It’ll create a much friendlier and productive workplace, which will ultimately benefit everyone at the business.