Minimize your headcount for maximum productivity. Keeping your headcount perrenially short will do more than just keep your costs low. It is a well kept secret that it can also maximize the productivity of your workforce. What do you need to know, and how do you go about using this concept effectively?
When times are tough, workers work harder. Many studies have shown that employees are psychologically incapable of doing less than their best, except under the most extreme and demoralizing circumstances. Even when workers know they can’t possibly succeed, they will try endlessly to meet your expectations. No one wants to think badly of themselves, so, as you increase the workload, workers will increase their efforts until they either burn out or leave the organization. That means they will be working harder on average, and you have less people to “surplus” should the business take a downturn or upper management dictate some downsizing.
Never let people think your organization isn’t under intense pressure. As mentioned in other management secrets, always maintain the message that the organization is in a state of hardship due to extermal factors like competition or the economy, as that will help keep your employees’ noses to the grindstone, and keep them thinking they have no option to leave. When their backs are to the wall you will get more work out of them.
Maintaining the workload just outside your staff’s capabilities, but not so severe that they leave, will provide the best return on your investment. You may lose a few employees along the way, but they were probably just wimps that couldn’t take it anyway. You will look great to your bosses and your staff will be too busy to notice your long lunches and other executive perks.
copyright 1998, 2008, Timothy F. Prosser, This line must be included in all copies
Tags: business humor, downsizing, headcount control, headcount reduction, humor, management humor
April 15, 2009 at 12:15 pm |
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