As the saying goes, we’re only human. We make mistakes, we forget important details and we overlook certain things just because sometimes, our heads are preoccupied with other things.
It’s the nature of the human beast and most of the time, a simple apology will do. However, in other incidences, mistakes can lead to more serious consequences and be much more challenging to rectify.
The latter is particularly true when it comes to our work. In our private lives, a mistake can usually be forgiven with a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates. Within the professional realm, however, human errors – as honest as they may be – can cost businesses valuable time, money or custom which is not always so easy to smooth over.
With this in mind, we wanted to offer some quick and easy advice on measures you could be taking to reduce the risk of human error in the workplace, from small home offices to large companies with multiple bases around the country.
1. Don’t make targets and deadlines unattainable
If staff are rushing to achieve unrealistic objectives and deadlines, they will naturally end up making mistakes and oversights on account of not having time to do their most thorough work.
Giving staff adequate time for research, planning, project management and wiggle room for correcting any mistakes will lower stress levels as well as the risk of human error.
2. Make sure staff have access to the tools they need
Time is essential but without adequate resource too, you will be setting your workforce up to fail.
From technology to research sources and the right kinds of workspaces, you need to ensure your workforce have everything they need to work effectively and productively. Without this, human error is inevitable.
3. Work on your internal communication lines
One of the most effective ways to prevent errors occurring is to make sure communications are clear and concise in the first place.
Bolstering stronger communication lines between staff will make briefs, project management and evaluations a more streamline process whereby everybody is on the same page with full understanding of what needs to be done.
4. Offer regular training and personal development
Technology and software is in a state of constant advancement, which means the demands from clients and customers are evolving simultaneously.
Providing regular training and opportunities to acquire new skills will mean your workforce is well-equipped to utilise this new technology and software as part of their daily routine.
5. Consider cloud storage and document management
Using the Cloud to store documents means that one single member of staff (or team) doesn’t have the responsibility of maintaining important data. An external storage location means that files are being backed up regularly, just in case of document loss or damage.
One of the industries where human error can carry some of the greatest risk is within accounting and finance. Working with a trained accountant and making the transition into cloud-based bookkeeping are two effective forms of damage control.
If you’d like more information about our cloud-based bookkeeping software, find out more about plans and pricing here.
