How to maintain high employee performance during a recession

By Ann E. Smith

During a recession, fear and uncertainty take center stage in many people's minds. Instead of focusing on their daily tasks at hands, your employees may understandably be preoccupied with rumors about pending layoffs or the current news on the economy.

If you are a manager looking to maintain high employee performance during a time of recession, there are several things you can do. Below are some suggestions.

Be as forthcoming with information as you can.
Your staff is clearly nervous, and fear can do weird things to the mind. As a manager, what you can do to help is to be as forthcoming as you can be when it comes to sharing information.

If the company is in the middle of the sometimes dreaded reorganization, then give your staff the facts that you are legally allowed to provide. Give them the expected dates for announcements. Let them know if there are expected layoffs.

When news is not good, some managers would rather bury their heads in the sand than have to deliver that news. However, a good leader does not shirk this very important but tough responsibility. The fair thing to do is to inform your staff as best you can.

Be patient and supportive.
Sometimes when people are under immense stress, and in fear of losing their jobs, they may become a bit erratic in their behavior. While your tendency may be to get impatient with certain needs of your employees, now is not the time for that.

In fact, during a recession, you should step up your leadership abilities and strive to be both patient and supportive to your employees. They may need your kind ear or encouragement, and both can help them maintain a level of quality performance during a rocky time.

Try to boost morale by staying positive.
Your employees are facing all kinds of challenges and emotions. You can impact their performance by setting an attitude of positivity. If you stay positive, you can influence your staff's thoughts and behaviors. Even when the going is rough, there are things for which to be thankful.

Be sure to continue to recognize the achievements of your staff. If you cannot do that through monetary measures, given the recession, you can find other ways to do so. Too often these days, people forget to even thank others or to let them know it was a job well done.

Set clear expectations.
If there are a lot of changes in your organization due to the recession, things can get confusing very quickly. Remember to set clear expectations based on the changing climate. The clearer your communications to your staff, the more likely they will be able to perform well.

Be honest.
Employees naturally fear a veil of secrecy when companies are facing tough decisions, such as headcount reduction, due to a tough economy. Do not add to your employees' concerns and paranoid thoughts by being evasive or dishonest.

Again, you have legal requirements to meet, but try to be direct and honest. If there is something you cannot discuss but are being pressed on, you can let your staff member know that you cannot give more information at this time.

Do not, however, be dishonest and trick your employees to believe that things are fine, if you know they are going to be affected by layoffs. Being overly optimistic during such a time is in and of itself a form of dishonesty. The situation is not an easy one, but you will do yourself, and those who look up to you, a favor by being honest and compassionate.