In a May article on Med Device Online, Marissa Fayer, president of Fayer Consulting, offers several ways to develop more effective and engaged employees at offshore locations.
Keeping these employees engaged, Fayer wrote, creates gains in efficiency and profit. Here are a few of her recommendations:
- Bring employees into the process. When the company is making decisions about its future, let employees in to help strengthen relationships. “You’ll gain respect from your employees and instill a sense of responsibility in your workforce when you let your employees voice their opinions and include them as part of the solution,” Fayer wrote.
- Encourage employees to create solutions, not just take orders. Fayer wrote that in the medical device industry, for example, solving problems has to be done within the context of regulations. However, when companies train on the proper quality method, employees have greater involvement in shaping and guiding success. Fayer suggested leaders create incentives to achieve goals through continuous improvement metrics.
- Remind employees of the big picture. It’s easy for offshore employees to feel removed from the impact of their work. By showing employees videos or pictures of the products they work to create in use, companies raise awareness about employee talent and contributions, which can translate into increased responsiveness and work quality.
Employees, whether at headquarters or off site and out of sight, can’t be afterthoughts, Fayer wrote. “The traditional mentality needs to evolve past the outdated increase-pay approach, in order to keep pace with shifts in employee needs and the definition of engagement.”
Bravetta Hassell is a Chief Learning Officer associate editor. Comment below, or email editor@clomedia.com
