Documented process helps them to do that with confidence. When process is weak, inconsistent or largely absent, and too much is left to chance, it can have a detrimental effect on motivation because people are never quite sure how they are doing.
Our own research shows that 33 percent of employees have taken time off due to work-related stress and 42 percent have gone so far as to change jobs due to frustrations at work. These are alarmingly high numbers. When we started to drill down into what was going on behind the scenes, we discovered two seemingly contradictory forces at work. One was that people were not being given sufficient guidance on how to do their jobs well; the other was that managers were continuously chasing and checking up on employees, in effect micro-managing them. These two issues sit at opposite extremes of a spectrum. People don’t want to be dropped in it with no support, nor do they want to be micromanaged. The fact is most people want to sit somewhere in between and if they find themselves at those extremes they become unhappy.
More usually it’s because they are being ground down where they are, feeling that their talents are not being put to good use or fully appreciated, and/or that their employer is not supporting them to be their best.
To excel and thrive, people need guidance and a clearly set-out process to follow. They need to understand the rules of play, the preferred approach; the desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. They need training – something to help them to do their job well, and parameters to guide them. Unless they understand what good looks like, they will have nothing to measure their own performance by. If someone is on the right track, it is helpful for them to understand and feel this so they can continue in the right direction and keep improving.
By giving people a process, as an employer or manager, you are supporting them to do a good job – by helping them understand exactly what’s expected of them, and how they can shine. Better still, once staff have clear guidelines to work from, they become more self-sufficient. That is, it is less necessary for managers or business owners to check up on them. Employees then feel trusted, empowered and engaged in their work, which continues to drive up performance – and so the cycle of positive motivation and mood becomes self-perpetuating.
Assuming employees can see the benefits of your processes, they will start to take ownership of them. This in turn invites a new level of trust and reassurance. People want to be able to deliver something they can be proud of, which means they are likely to proactively report any issues with the process. So, as a manager, you’re able to leave them to it. Before long, everything is running like clockwork, and the manager or business owner is free to focus on higher-level decision-making.
If process is implemented correctly, it should be possible to see status updates about how everything is going, removing the need for managers to keep chasing teams or individuals for updates – which in itself can cause stress (it was the third most common cause of employee demotivation in our research).
In a positive, process-enabled scenario, keeping key people in the loop should feel instinctive, because everyone desires – and wants to be seen to be working towards – the same outcome: success.
Alister Esam is an Innovator, Investor and CEO, and the author of The Dirty Word: The word that fills people with dread is the key to business freedom, out on 1st August.
April
29apr11:4514:00Women in Business Networking - London networking - London City
29/04/2025 11:45 - 14:00(GMT+01:00)
The Anthologist
58 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BB
Kick off your 2025 in style by networking with us. A fabulous mix of formal & informal networking over a facilitated business lunch
WIBN networking is here to create a platform for like-minded women, who passionately drive their business forward and collaborate with others to help them achieve success.
WIBN is a business network organisation for women business owners and employed professionals, who network each month over a facilitated business lunch. Our members support and encourage each other through collaboration and the sharing of business contacts and opportunities. The meetings are structured and effective, whilst also being supportive and friendly!
As Women Business Owners we know that one person can transform your business but think what you could achieve with a tribe of supportive and passionate business owners?? At WIBN we recognise that often women lack relevant networking opportunities simply because they network in a different way to men!
Our monthly meetings are a fabulous mix of formal and informal networking which includes your own 60 secs pitch, a focused spotlight session from a member and lunch.Our philosophy in this group is simple – No sister left behind! Come along to our WIBN group as a visitor and experience the potential to grow your business in a more productive way.
WIBN has a professional exclusivity policy so it’s one profession per group – see below * . As long as your profession is not already represented you would be welcome to visit a group twice before deciding if you want to join.
WIBN is a monthly membership group and a 12 month commitment will be required after you have visited a maximum of two times. Full details and prices will be given at the meeting.
*in the event that your profession is already represented at your chosen meeting then the organiser saves the right to propose another place or date. If we cannot relocate you then a full refund will be given.
30apr10:0016:00Women's Health Champion Course (CPD Accredited)
30/04/2025 10:00 - 16:00(GMT+01:00)
Periods, menopause,
They’re everyday realities for millions of women and they directly impact performance, engagement and retention.
But stigma, silence and a lack of knowledge mean many managers and HR professionals don’t know how to spot the signs or have the right conversations.
It’s time to change that.
Our Women’s Health Champion Training is designed to break the silence and build real, practical support in your organisation – every single day.
Delivered by two expert trainers, this engaging course covers:
✅ Menstrual health and managing period-related challenges
✅ Fertility, pregnancy, and baby loss (including returning to work)
✅ Gynaecological conditions like endometriosis, fibroids and PCOS
✅ Menopause and long-term wellbeing
✅ Practical strategies to create a truly inclusive culture
Date: Wednesday 30th April 2025
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Place: Zoom
Cost: £495 per person
Or get in touch if you’d like us to create a bespoke course for your organisation.