Keeping with the theme of spring and renewal, we’re thinking about ways that you can renew the productivity and morale in your agency. However, it can be difficult to maintain a consistently productive office when you aren’t certain what makes productivity. It is rare that an agency has clearly defined roles – or any business for that matter. In the interest of making the client happy, it can be all too easy for lines to become blurred.

Unfortunately, without defined roles and responsibilities, you are doing your agency a disservice. A productive work team is one that capitalizes on strengths and weaknesses. Everyone should be aware of what they are responsible for in the “big picture” and the rest of the team should understand where they fall in the hierarchy of every decision. This is the most effective way to reach agency goals, and of course, keep the client happy. But how can that be done?

One of the easiest ways to keep a team cohesive and accountable is to understand work styles.

Check out these four:

1. “Doing”– Employees with this work style tend to work best when they have the freedom to execute tasks. They value to-do lists and a sense of completion. Tasks with measurable results are a huge plus for these people.
2. “Leading”– Individuals with this work style are most likely to be inspiring. This employee has a clear vision for the end-result and a high level of passion. They are easily able to get others sharing in their passion and vision.
3. “Learning”– This employee will work best in situations where research and questioning is part of the optimal end-result. This person loves learning and picking apart and solving problems.
4. “Loving”– These employees are relationship-minded people. This type of employee is a huge asset when it comes time to brainstorm new ideas or better approaches to old ideas.

A quick assessment of work styles in your agency can allow for increased productivity. Remember, every agency wants a good balance of all of these types of people – we build off of one another’s strengths and weaknesses! Additionally, when workers understand their roles, they are more likely to have a investment in the success that comes from those roles, and workers who are invested in the success of their job are much more effective!