Managing employees is an art that needs constant tweaking. Business plans provide the goals. Managers construct the workforce cogs of employees into a fine oiled machine that strives to reach those goals. Success is easily achieved by allowing an employee to shine in his individual strengths.

Just as you wouldn't use a screwdriver to drill a hole, improper use of an employee's skills can hamper your effectiveness as a manager. Employees are individuals and need to be acknowledged as such. Long term or short term, matching an employee to a given assignment leads to better productivity and a happier work environment.

It starts with the interview. Aside from application qualifications, learning why your applicant wants to join forces can open up possibilities. The applicant may want to learn more about the product or services your company specializes in. His future goal may be to start his own similar business. This individual is willing to do every task from the ground up. He feels that he is being paid to learn and can be a great asset. If your company business is based on a patent or sensitive process, a non-disclosure non-compete document may be necessary. A good manager will not look upon this as a threat but as a possible future business partner or 2nd location manager. This applicant is self-motivated. Use his strengths to your advantage.

Your applicant may be applying for a position simply to earn an additional paycheck. By delving into his current/former jobs, you may find hidden strengths that will meet your needs as well as his. In today's economy, additional income may be a requirement to offset a layoff, pay cut, or downsizing. Many are applying for positions for which they are over-qualified. You, the manager, may find the qualifications of this applicant perfect to make the permanent move to your company for a better position, better pay, job security, or better benefits package. Give him the job he applied for and groom him for the the switch.

An employee may not excel in the position for which he was hired. Before letting him go, see if there is a better fit. As an example, a salesperson may not be selling his quota. However, he shows a talent for setting up displays that catch the buyer's eye. Using his talent makes your employee happier in the workplace and makes your salespeople more productive by freeing up their time to make sales.