How to create effective channels of communication?
Try to nominate one staff member to meet with, who should be responsible to collate any questions or feedback from your other staff. This way, having just one point person will efficiently help manage your time. That staff member can then report back to your other staff members and relay the details relevant to each of them.
Think carefully about your daily or weekly schedule, and work out what time and days would be most convenient for you. A meeting need only last a few minutes!
From the staff point of view, mid mornings and late afternoons would be the most optimal.
You should try to keep notes or an ‘aide memoire’
A morning meeting would be a great time to confirm the day’s arrangements and give feedback from questions and requests that may have been posed the day before.
An afternoon meeting, would be a great time to give confirmation on the following day’s arrangements. Meetings could be constructed as follows:
Priority points – this may be answers you need from them and they need from you asap.
Your daily rundown – you should confirm your lunch and dinner requirements, including guests, meal timings and menu choices, as well as any other guests or specific requirements for the day or that you know for the next few days.
Staff daily rundown – This may include any contractors or service professionals arranged, such as the florist, window cleaner and so forth.
Other issues – You should bring up other points you want them to focus on. This could be that you’ve noticed light bulbs that are blown, that the breakfast tray was not cleared at an appropriate time, that you need certain errands performed and so forth.
Allow time for any other points.
Ambiguity is NEVER a good thing. Staff are generally much happier with clear lines of authority and instruction. Staff, much prefer being given clear instruction than to rely on guess work.
This is an exert from Martin’s book From Chaos to Calm.
A ‘How to’ book for new or existing employers of domestic staff, to source the best staff on the market for your needs and how to effectively run your household.
