7 Dos and Don’ts of Employee Apps for Small Businesses

7 Dos and Don'ts of Employee Apps for Small Businesses

Employee apps are becoming the new way to onboard, communicate with and manage employees. They are a tool, and just as any tool can be used for good or bad, employee apps have the potential to strengthen a team or derail it. Here are some dos and don’ts for using an employee app:

1. Do: Use it to foster professional growth

Every good manager wants each of their employees to become competent and satisfied with their job. Professional growth and knowledge are fertile ground for this transformation to occur. Employee apps allow managers to create a virtual library of courses, training materials and essential knowledge to spark employees’ interest and ultimately lead to job success. This is an easy and efficient way to educate your employees and allow them to grow into their potential.


2. Don’t: Stalk your employees

No one likes being micro-managed or told what to do. However, every reasonable employee understands the need for their supervisor to check in with them, monitor their progress and provide feedback on their performance, but the majority of workers don’t want a supervisor breathing down their throat. Deskless workers who don’t have to report to an office may feel the effects of micromanagement less than office workers, but they still want to feel respected. Instead of using the push notifications feature to micro-manage, use it to inform, communicate and encourage.  

3. Do: Welcome your employees

Everyone knows the feeling- the dreaded first day of work. You’re a little nervous, you’re on your best behavior, and you hope you do the job well and get along with your co-workers. Every manager can ease this transition by warmly welcoming employees and helping them get adjusted. Employee apps can offer onboarding information for employees such as company policies and job responsibilities. The employee can then take a test to see if they have absorbed the information in order to help them get started on the right foot.

4. Don’t: Be cold and short

A warm relationship between an employee and his supervisor is key to fostering positive interactions which lead to employee success. If an employee receives messages that show a sense of care and concern for them as both an employee and as person, this will lead to a better working relationship which can lead to better performance outcomes. Rather than sending cold and short messages and announcements, put some life and humanity into your communication with employees. This will bring about positive vibes whether you see your employees in person or not.  

5. Do: Make your employees feel heard

Feeling heard and understood is a basic human need. In a workplace setting, employees need to feel heard and validated by management. This is one of the most underused keys to management success. Employee apps can help workers voice their feedback through responding to polls and surveys. Polls and surveys can be conducted about employee satisfaction, new products and services and safety issues. Management can view results in real-time, a fun feature that also keeps you informed of the employee sentiment. Receiving feedback from employees and further implementing changes that they suggest will make everyone feel a vital part of the team decision making process.

6. Don’t: Be a stranger

There are exhaustive studies on the effects of positive and negative communication in all types of relationships, both personal and professional. Positive and frequent communication between management and employees breeds a friendly and pleasant working relationship. When a manager opens up the communication channels, he or she invites the employee to open up, give feedback and make them feel like they are a part of the team. This type of working relationship will increase job satisfaction as well as retention.

7. An app for both employee and employer

An employee app can be seen as a tool for managers. If you also view it as an app for employees, you are on the right track. An employee app can help educate workers, bring about warm and efficient communication, and make employees feel welcome. It also invites a much-needed space for employee feedback- for workers to know their voice matters. Utilizing an employee app in the right way can be both a management tool and an employee satisfaction tool. Killing two birds with one app, not bad.

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