Managing your staff: workforce planning

Communication with your staff is critical to your overall business performance. 

The downloadable resources on this page are referred to in Your Workforce - a workforce planning guide. 

Read how to use the workforce templates to customise the documents for your business.

Leadership

The key factors important in good leadership include all of the following:

• managing relationships
• motivating employees
• resolving problems and making decisions
• dealing with conflict
• teaching, mentoring, coaching and supporting others by acting as a role model
• modifying one’s own behaviour when necessary
• seeing a new or different path and encouraging others to follow.

Communication

As a leader, you are the role model for the way conversations happen in your workplace. Some useful tips for effective communication include all of the following:

• observe the tone of the conversation and body language being used
• be self aware and know your perceptions, beliefs, triggers and behaviours
• be clear on intent and what outcome your want from the conversation
• be committed to the conversation to indicate a high level of concern, credibility and authenticity
• advocate, do not debate or drive home your own view while diminishing someone else’s
• listen to learn what someone else is thinking and what their needs are
• provide opportunities for others to speak
• establish rapport by inquiring after their thinking and feelings about the issue
• clarify assumptions and take a little extra time to let people know what you are thinking
• structure your discussion before the conversation starts.

6.1 Lead and communicate checklist DOCX (42.4 KB)
6.1 Lead and communicate checklist PDF (45.6 KB)

6.2 Evaluation of leadership skills factsheet DOCX (44.7 KB)
6.2 Evaluation of leadership skills factsheet PDF (51.5 KB)