The Easiest Way to Increase Employee Engagement

April 28th, 2017

To take your company to the top — and stay there — you need a team filled with engaged employees. If your staffers seem less-than-enthused about their work and your brand in general, the easiest way to turn things around is to get involved yourself.

As the boss, your team looks up to you, so your actions directly impact their level of job satisfaction. Find out how to step in and bring your employee engagement numbers to an all-time high.

Hire Right

It doesn’t matter if you’re filling Seattle temp accounting jobs or direct-hire positions, choosing the right person is key. More than just a skills fit, you need people with traits and behaviors that align with your company culture. Those who aren’t a match won’t be passionate about the work and their indifference will bring the entire team down.

Recognize Great Work

When employees put in extra effort, call out their exceptional work. Recognition makes people feel appreciated and lets them know you’re taking note. A simple thank you might not seem like much to you, but it means a lot to your staff. People are motivated by a boss who shows gratitude.

Offer Career Advancement

If much of your staff feels like they’re in a dead-end job, this is probably why they’re not engaged. People aren’t inspired to work hard when they know they’ll have to leave the company to advance their career. Change this by making an effort to promote from within, when possible. Meet with your best employees to learn more about their career goals and see if there’s a way to make them happen at your organization.

Keep Employees in the Loop

Employees have a huge stake in your company, so they need to know what’s going on. If clients and the general public tend to get news about your organization before your staff, it’s no wonder they’re detached. Make sure they’re the first to know when something big is about to happen, because they deserve this respect. Additionally, hold regular staff meetings to update them on the latest company happenings and upcoming ventures.

Let Everyone Have a Voice

You hired really talented people, so if you’re constantly micromanaging and talking at them, they’re probably feeling uninspired. Take advantage of the brilliant minds on your team by listening to their ideas and allowing them to take the lead on projects. They’ll rediscover the excitement they once had for their jobs and your company will benefit from the impact of collaboration — rather than just having you tell everyone what to do.

Need a little help finding the right person to fill an accounting or finance position on your team? Contact Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing. You can count on us to deliver top Seattle area talent every time!

Reasons You Should Clean Your Workspace BEFORE You Get Started This Morning

April 21st, 2017

If your desk is in a perpetual state of disarray, it’s time to make a change. You probably cringed at the sight of it — as always — when you walked into the office a few minutes ago, so stop everything and clean it right now.

Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing — one of the Seattle area’s leading accounting recruiters — wants you to understand the negative impact of working amid a sea of clutter. Consciously making an effort to put things where they belong will allow you to enjoy the following benefits.

Boost Productivity

It’s hard to get anything done when your workspace is in chaos. If you need a search party to find every paper, folder, and business card on your desk, you’re wasting valuable time that could be spent actually working. Prepare to be amazed at what you can accomplish when working in a neat and orderly environment.

Decrease Stress Levels

Misplacing important paperwork is terrifying. You probably eventually find it in your jumbled mess of a desk, but the race to track it down is incredibly stressful. Lower your blood pressure and your level of anxiety by cleaning up your workspace now, creating a system of order, and actually keeping it.

Look More Professional

Whether you’re in an office or a cubicle, your untidy desk is an eyesore. It’s probably difficult for your colleagues to take you seriously when you’re sitting amongst a mountain of clutter. Present yourself as the talented professional you are by straightening up your work area, making it a place you’re proud to call your own.

Get Additional Workspace

If your desk is always a mess, it’s probably challenging to find anywhere to actually work. Backing yourself into a tiny corner of your desk is cramped, awkward, and completely unnecessary, so clear your space out and enjoy having plenty of room to spread out and work comfortably.

Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing wants to help you take the next step in your career. Contact us today to start your search for the right temporary/contract, contract-to-hire, or direct-hire accounting or finance opportunity with a top Seattle area employer!

Five Signs Your Team Chemistry is Falling Apart…and How to Intervene

April 14th, 2017

Once upon a time, your team bond seemed unbreakable. Employees worked well together, supported one another, and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. Unfortunately, things have changed and the chemistry your staffers once had is quickly going by the wayside.

If any of the situations below sound familiar, Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing — one of the leading Seattle temp agencies — says it’s time to intervene:

  • Collaboration has become a thing of the past.
  • People complain a lot and appear unhappy.
  • The team is divided.
  • No one seems to take pride in their work.
  • Employees don’t hang out anymore.

How to Restore Team Chemistry

The way your team interacts with one another hugely impacts both the quality of their work and their level of job satisfaction. If a once dynamic team chemistry has fizzled, both of these areas are lacking, so you need to step in. Follow these tips to help your staffers get back in sync with one another.

Create Goals for the Team

Inspire your employees to work together by setting goals that must be completed as a group. People are forced to unite when they share a common goal, so this extra push will make them stronger. It might be a little awkward at first, but in no time at all, they’ll be back in their old groove.

Clearly Define Each Person’s Role

Tensions rise when people feel like their toes are being stepped on by colleagues. Put this to rest once and for all by giving each person specific responsibilities and making sure everyone is informed of who’s doing what. It’s a lot easier to work together when people know exactly where they stand.

Promote Open Communication

Working together is impossible if everyone is operating on their own wavelength. As the boss, you set the tone for team communication, so create a culture where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions. Maintaining an open dialogue ensures all staffers are informed and on the same page.

Help Employees Re-Establish a Bond

Only so much bonding can happen in the office, so take your team on an outing. It doesn’t matter if you organize a team-building event, group lunch, or a happy hour, as long as everyone is present. Schedule these events periodically to encourage employees to reconnect and have fun together.

If you need a little help finding the best accounting or finance professional for the job, Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing is here to assist. Contact us today to start making better hiring decisions every time!

Four Things That Are Making You Unlikeable Among Your Team

April 7th, 2017

If you’re like many people, you spend at least as much — if not more — time with your colleagues than your loved ones. It’s important to have a great relationship with your peers, because it makes work so much easier and more enjoyable.

Being the outcast never feels great, whether you’re a temp in Seattle or a permanent, full-time employee. It’s even worse when you’re not sure why your team is icing you out. If any of the behaviors below can be used to describe you, take the hint and change your ways.

Snarky Attitude

Maybe you have a dry sense of humor or perhaps you really are a bit prickly — either way, this less-than-friendly attitude is causing your colleagues to stay at arm’s length. Recognize that despite your intentions, you’re coming off as a bit of a jerk, so you need to soften up. Get in their good graces by thinking before you speak and making a point to say three nice things per day.

Not Pulling Your Weight

A team is only as great as the people powering it, so if you’re not doing your fair share of work, your co-workers probably resent you. If you come in late, leave early, and enjoy long lunches while everyone else is hard at work, you’re bringing the group down. It’s beyond stressful to work with someone who just doesn’t care — and that someone is you. Make things right by picking up your own slack and modeling your behavior after your associates.

Unwillingness to Help Others

As the old saying goes, there’s no I in team. Dutifully completing all your assignments in a timely manner is great, but sometimes your colleagues need more. Teammates are supposed to support one another, so if someone is in a bind and you’re in a position to help, opting out won’t go unnoticed. No one wants to work alongside someone who only cares about themselves. Improve your reputation by offering to pitch in the next time a co-worker is swamped, instead of spending the afternoon cruising the Internet.

Overly Chatty Nature

Friendly co-workers are the best, but there’s such a thing as being too talkative. You probably don’t realize it, but constantly stopping by your colleagues’ desk for non-work-related chats can be annoying. The same goes for having loud phone conversations in cube-land. There’s a fine line between being social and just plain annoying, so dial back a bit to stop boxing yourself into the latter.

Finding the right accounting or finance job takes a lot of time and effort, so ease the burden by allowing Accountingpros Recruiting + Staffing to assist. Simply tell our recruiting managers what you’re looking for and they’ll connect you with a Seattle-area employer in the market for a candidate just like you! Contact us today to get started.