3 Ways to Enhance Communication With Your New Maid
Effective communication between employers and employees remains one of the cornerstones of a positive partnership. Through communication, both parties can better understand each other and convey their thoughts to achieve shared goals. This is especially crucial in an employee-maid relationship, where English may not typically be their first language. In this article, we’re here to provide some tips on enhancing communication with your new helper to foster mutual respect and cultivate a more supportive working environment.
Establish Clear Expectations
A difference in expectations can lead to misunderstandings and frustration, ultimately straining relationships. On the other hand, when expectations are clearly defined, both parties have a mutual understanding of what needs to be done, how it should be done and when it should be completed. Such clarity minimises mistakes and encourages a sense of responsibility. Before letting your helper carry out her tasks, discuss specific duties, preferred cleaning methods, schedules and any other relevant expectations. This ensures that your maid knows exactly what is required of her, facilitating smoother communication and productive collaboration.
Alternatively, you can also engage a direct hire transfer maid in Singapore to ease the onboarding process. Having worked in similar roles before, transfer helpers often come with a wealth of knowledge on household routines. Their prior experience not only allows them to excel in the demands of their job and adapt to various working environments, but they can also provide valuable insights and suggestions, further improving communication and the efficiency of tending to your home care needs.
Learn more: Hiring Transfer Maids
Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement strategies involve acknowledging and rewarding desirable behaviours, which encourages your maid to continue performing well. Receiving approval for completing tasks or going above and beyond reinforces that habit and strengthens the employer-helper relationship. For instance, if your maid consistently maintains cleanliness to a high standard, offering praises or even gifting a small token conveys your appreciation and boosts her morale. After all, effective communication goes beyond simply giving instructions, it is also about encouraging and maintaining good practices.
If you have hired a transfer maid in Singapore, demonstrating positive reinforcement remains crucial. While direct hire maids may already possess the necessary experience and skills, acknowledging their efforts can elevate their performance even further, amplifying their abilities and enhancing the quality of their work.
Hire a Mandarin-Speaking Maid
Singapore boasts a diverse multicultural society and Mandarin is one of the most commonly spoken languages alongside English. In many households, particularly those with elderly members or where Mandarin is spoken as a first language, having a Mandarin-speaking maid enhances communication significantly. They may be better equipped to engage with other Mandarin-speaking members of the family or handle tasks requiring Mandarin, such as liaising with service providers or assisting with language-specific household needs. This cultural understanding with domestic help ensures clarity in guidance, alignment in expectations and a deeper sense of rapport.
At JForce Employment Services, we understand the importance of language skills in the maid hiring process. Our network database includes Mandarin-speaking maids who have worked in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, catering to the needs of families who are more fluent in Mandarin.
The ability to converse effectively is the first step towards building an excellent employer-helper working relationship. Try implementing the suggested strategies and you’d be surprised at how seamlessly communication flows, even amidst linguistic diversity.
As a trusted maid agency in Singapore, JForce Employment Services takes pride in providing dedicated customer care and reliable maids for all your home care needs.
Boon Keng