What is Workforce Optimization?
Businesses are constantly faced with the challenge of maximizing their efficiency and productivity while minimizing costs. A strategic solution to this everyday dilemma? Workforce optimization.
Workforce optimization (WFO) describes a set of strategies and processes that aim to maximize employee quality, productivity, and efficiency so that an organization can perform at its highest level. WFO is a unique alignment of people, processes, and technology that will help your organization achieve long-term success. In fact, according to a report by Aberdeen Group, organizations that implemented WFO into their workforce saw a 5% increase in customer satisfaction and 15% reduction in workforce-related costs.
5 Steps You Can Take to Optimize Your Workforce
Workforce optimization puts the focus on your employees, thereby boosting employee engagement, morale, and retention, thereby increasing profitability and solidifying success across your entire organization. When a business takes the time to invest in and understand its people, it flourishes. So, here are 5 steps you can take to start investing in your human capital and implementing WFO strategies and processes:
Know your employee’s strengths – Knowing your employee’s strengths gives you valuable insights into your team to help you understand the tools and tactics that will help them work more efficiently and reach their full potential. You can collect this information through observations, employee self-evaluations, or assessments like the DISC.
Training and development plans – Once you have a solid understanding of the fortitude and talent of your workforce, you need to be able to create employee development plans. This can be as simple as identifying on-the-job or step-up training such as job shadowing, reviewing standard operating procedures with a trainer, webinars, online training courses, classroom training, coaching & mentoring programs, or even group discussions. These training and development plans will improve everyday job performance as well as expand your employee’s opportunities for growth.
Effective communication – It is critical to communicate the implementation, goals, and benefits of WFO to your entire workforce; why you are implementing these strategies and processes and how it will positively impact both the individual employees and organization as a whole. Effectively communicating the WFO initiative, its how, and why will minimize resistance and boost support for it.
Invest in employee retention – Retaining employees is always desirable for a business, but workforce continuity and stability is especially vital when it comes to WFO. So, take the time to research and invest in effective employee retention tactics to ensure your team stays competitive. This includes competitive compensation packages (especially those that go beyond the traditional benefits and also focus on work-life balance and employee well-being), opportunities for career growth, and recognizing and rewarding employee achievements.
Data utilization for making business decisions – Data collection and analysis of workforce performance and business operations is key in developing and implementing WFO strategies and processes. Data utilization will allow you to map the trends of what is working vs. not working so you can make informed decisions and create effective strategies. In fact, according to a 2020 Forbes survey, 91% of organizations reported that the use of data and analytics is crucial for their business success and 84% said it gives them a competitive advantage.
Taking these 5 steps to optimize your workforce will transform your operations and allow you to start working from a place of higher productivity, quality, and efficiency. By focusing on knowing your employee’s strengths, training and development plans, effectively communicating, investing in employee retention, and data utilization – you are creating a workforce that values and puts your employees first, thereby setting up your entire organization for maximum success.
To learn more about how Premier HR Solutions can help you invest in your human capital and optimize your workforce, click the link below to learn more about our employee assessments.
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