When you started your small business you were probably responsible for fixing anything that went wrong. That tends to happen when you're the only employee. As your business grows and you add staff it can be hard to let go of that role. It's important to recognize when you need to jump in and fix things and when you should step back and let your employees work things out on their own. Keep reading to learn more. We'll also have some great tips on how a powerful small business inventory management tool like Stockpile can solve all your inventory management issues. Trust us when we say this is one fix you won't want to put off.
Now Hear This
This first key to how involved you should be is often how the problem comes to your attention. If someone puts an anonymous note on your desk that is a desperate cry for help. If they are just venting at the water cooler and you happen to overhear that probably means they are working it out on their own. Often the situation isn't that clear cut. They may say something directly to you regarding the situation but they doesn't necessarily mean that they want you to jump in and solve it for them. They may have just been trying to keep you in the loop or rubber ducky-ing the situation just to talk it out and see if a solution bubbles up.
When In Doubt
When you're not sure you'll need to look for additional clues. If the issue only involves one or two people or just a specific department you may be able to take a wait and see approach. When more people or departments are involved a small issue can quickly escalate into a larger problem. In that case, you may want to intervene sooner rather than late to minimize the fallout. Consider the relationship between the employees involved. If the employees know each well and typically get along they may find a resolution on their own. Employees who haven't worked together before or who have an acrimonious relationship may have a harder time reaching a compromise. Similarly, a manager/employee relationship can complicated the situation. This is particularly true if the employee feels uncomfortable challenging their superior or if the manager is unwilling to listen to a subordinate.
Moving On
Resolving an issue isn't just about solving the problem at hand, it's often about how things will go as you move forward. This is why the decision you make is so important. If your employees feel like you jumped in when you shouldn't have they may feel railroaded and be resentful of your interference. Pushing things to a head when they weren't ready to face the conflict can also have negative consequences. If you intervene when your efforts are needed and appreciated it can have a much more positive impact on everyone involved. When you wait it shows that you trust your employees, value their judgement, and respect their ability to handle matters on their own. Becoming involved when they need you shows that you care and are willing to jump in when necessary. Both can create a powerful business relationship that will benefit your company going forward.
Stockpile Is the Inventory Answer You Need
There's no question when it comes to Stockpile. If you have inventory you need a way to easily manage it and Stockpile is the answer. Creating item records is quick and easy. Because Stockpile is fully customizable you choose which fields to include in item records. Why try to tweak an enterprise solution to fit your unique needs? You can design Stockpile to track the information that matters to your small business. You can include barcodes, size, color, manufacturer and so much more. You can even include a photo in your item records.
Thanks to areas and locations tracking items is simple. Using both allows you to be very specific about where inventory is stored. As items move around your business it's easy to update records so that you always have current information. Since Stockpile is available for free you're not limited to a certain number of users either. You can give multiple employees access to the system which will help ensure that everyone keeps the data up to date.
Stockpile is mobile compatible so you'll have access to your data even when you're out of the office. This makes it easy to stay in touch even when you're away. Need to run reports? Just a few clicks and you can pull up all the information that you need. Ready to see what we can do for you? Try Stockpile today!
