When it comes to managing staff and assigning daily/weekly duties you cannot overestimate the power of a simple chalkboard or dry-erase, whiteboard. These types of boards enable you to inform your employees about a number of topics, everything from listing off a selection of tasks needed to be completed by the end of the day to posting inspiring/motivational quotes or content to writing news or updates regarding the company or manufacture.
As a result, this article is designed to list off a variety of reasons for why adding a chalkboard or whiteboard to your break room or warehouse area will enable you to run a more proficient, effective daily operation.
Assigning Tasks
Are you a manager who has ever stumbled into your office at any point in the day, only to find one or more of your employees hanging around because they’ve completed one task and are unsure of what to do next? If you’re like most managers, you do not spend your full day in the office. You’re answering calls and meeting with other individuals and, from time to time, you’re out on the floor checking in on workers or inventory.
The problem with too many managers is they expect workers to come to them if they’re day-to-day duties are not consistent and/or they’re working seasonal/temporary roles where they might just be learning. Assigning daily/weekly tasks on a dry-erase board or chalkboard is a simple practice, yet not carried out at many operations.
If you have a board where employees turn to when they are wondering what to do next, you eliminate the need for employees to always go to you for an answer. Consequently, employees are going to spend less time waiting around for you for answers and immediately go to the board for the same information. The result is a more productive, efficient warehouse.
Organization
If you do not have one already, it’s not a bad idea to hang a planner or custom calendar in some room of the warehouse, usually the break room. These planners are dry-erase, allowing you to scribble notes and change each month. Planners or calendars can be used for a variety of reasons, from informing staff about work schedules to incoming shipments/outgoing shipments to general events (like birthdays, company events, etc).
Information
Chalkboards and whiteboards may also be used to post resources such as information about the company or warehouse. If you depend on sales, posting how the company is doing is one example of how you can motivate or congratulate workers on a poor or fine job done. Information postings can also include other facts like upcoming shipments or any other information you need to share with your employees.
Motivation
Some people might say that using a whiteboard or chalkboard for inspiration/motivation is cheesy, but it all depends on the dynamics of your workplace. If you like to inspire workers as their manager it’s yet another method for motivating and getting the best out of your employees. If nothing else you can post a joke or funny quote to spark some humor in an otherwise long and uneventful day.