Did you know that deskless workers make up about 80% of the global workforce? They are an invaluable asset to your company and bring with them diverse skills, perspectives, and techniques to any organization. In today’s work environment, it is significant to introduce tools and an open communication forum that can enhance their personal and professional development.
This article explores the best practices and proven strategies for receiving feedback from deskless workers and encourages them to seek effective feedback. The importance of employee coaching, mentoring, and effective implementation strategies cannot be ignored.
Given the nature of their jobs, deskless employees normally operate without a continuous feedback loop. They frequently face challenges such as a lack of corporate communication tools, limited feedback opportunities, and feelings of isolation from the broader organization.
Comprehensive Feedback offers a holistic perspective on an employee’s performance, covering various aspects of their work. This detailed feedback is particularly beneficial for deskless workers, who often lack regular interaction with supervisors.
By gathering insights from deskless employees, 360 Feedback helps businesses also identify areas that might be overlooked in traditional feedback systems. This is crucial for personal and professional growth.
With a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, deskless employees are encouraged to take ownership of their growth. This builds a culture of continuous improvement.
When deskless workers receive meaningful feedback and also give relevant feedback, they feel valued and heard. This leads to increased engagement and productivity and demonstrates the organization’s investment in its development.
Clear and effective communication can significantly reduce turnover by improving job satisfaction and creating a sense of community.
Engaged employees are more productive, leading to higher profitability. Effective communication fosters engagement, resulting in a more profitable business.
Proper communication ensures that deskless employees and the organizational heads are informed about safety updates and can report concerns promptly. This enhances workplace safety.
To implement feedback effectively for deskless workers, organizations should:
Deskless workers face unique challenges in interaction and feedback collection:
Deskless employees operate in mobile environments, often without direct interaction with coworkers or managers. This dispersal makes it difficult for these employees to bond over shared experiences or feel integrated into the company culture. Consequently, employee retention and engagement suffer, which impacts the company’s costs.
The issue of disengagement is widespread. Only 33% of the US workforce and 23% of the global workforce feel engaged in their jobs. This lack of commitment and connection to company goals and culture is detrimental to overall business performance.
Deskless workers typically work in shifts, making it difficult to communicate with the team. They may need information at different times, which further complicates communication efforts.
Deskless employees often feel disconnected from their company’s culture due to various factors when:
This disconnect leads to disengagement, negatively affecting business outcomes.
Deskless employees may not have access to the same technology as office workers. Effective communication requires effective, modern platforms designed for deskless workforces that incorporate the right technology.
Here are some ways in which you can identify the needs of deskless workers:
Deskless employees can offer firsthand insights that drive organizational improvement and enhance brand image. They have specialized skills and perspectives.
Deskless workers operate in diverse and dynamic environments, often facing time constraints and limited access to traditional feedback channels. Recognizing and addressing these unique needs is crucial for their engagement and productivity.
It is important to ensure that deskless workers have access to the necessary devices, such as mobile phones or computers, to connect despite different locations and work schedules.
Tailoring communication methods to deskless workers’ preferences—whether text, voice notes, or mobile apps—is essential for their engagement. Direct and indirect communication channels should be optimized to keep these employees connected.
A survey revealed that 17% of deskless employees communicate with their teams but never interact with headquarters or managers. This number drops to 8% in companies using collaboration tools. Effective communication strategies can bridge this gap, ensuring deskless employees are informed and valued.
Businesses must recognize that deskless workers are not “voiceless.” Deskless workers should be kept informed about company initiatives to ensure they feel valued.
Here are some best practices that can encourage feedback from deskless employees:
Here are some effective strategies that you can follow:
Communicate how feedback will be used to improve processes and working conditions. Sharing success stories of how past feedback led to positive changes can motivate employees to participate actively. Here are some tips:
Organizations need to listen to feedback and address concerns promptly and actively. Here are some best practices:
Here are some modern ways in which organizations can encourage feedback from employees and give constructive feedback to them:
Utilize buddy systems or mentorship programs for feedback exchange. Implement anonymous peer recognition programs to foster a supportive environment. Effective recognition can include:
Use instant messaging platforms for quick check-ins and open communication. Explore voice-enabled feedback tools for hands-free participation. Invest in technology that supports and engages deskless teams, as it can help them connect with employees, managers, and executives. It also provides easy access to vital information and enhances overall communication and engagement.
Despite many deskless workers using technology, satisfaction with these tools is often low. Effective technology solutions should:
Some ways to combat challenges related to feedback for deskless employees are:
To improve participation in feedback initiatives, consider offering incentives or small rewards. Customize surveys and questions to specific roles to make them more relevant. Evaluate your current platform’s performance by examining team alignment, information deliverability, and engagement levels. Key metrics to monitor include:
Survey team members to understand their experiences with the tools they use and identify any issues in accessing information. Streamlined communication and a central hub for deskless workers can significantly reduce the time needed to access essential information.
Regularly analyze feedback and share key findings with deskless workers. Communicate the steps taken based on their input to demonstrate the impact of their feedback. Key metrics to consider include:
Establish a focus group of deskless workers to provide direct feedback on current tools and suggest improvements. Offering market-rate compensation and flexible benefits can help retain employees.
Here are some strategies to enhance communication and engagement with deskless workers:
Effective feedback and coaching can transform performance management for deskless workers. Organizations must offer a comprehensive and balanced view of their performance and empower them to learn, grow, and excel.
Deskless workers, as frontline employees, play a crucial role in creating a positive customer experience. They generate innovative ideas which makes formal communication streams essential for improved customer experience and business growth. It is the leader’s responsibility to ensure that deskless workers feel heard, valued, and recognized. This eventually leads to lower turnover, increased commitment, and higher productivity.
By collaborating with professionals at theEMPLOYEEapp, you can learn everything about real-time, ongoing, and anonymous feedback mechanisms and apply appropriate measures to address issues promptly and maintain a motivated and engaged workforce.
A deskless worker is an employee who does not have a fixed desk or office space, often working in roles such as retail, healthcare, or field service.
Use mobile-friendly communication tools, engage with them in their work environment, and create channels for regular feedback.
Feedback helps deskless employees feel valued, understand their performance, and contribute ideas for improving processes and customer experiences.
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