Being a good boss is easier said than done. If you're not careful with your management style, you could risk driving away talented employees toward the competition. In the manufacturing industry – a sector still chasing a massive skills shortage – managers can't afford to lose anybody.

Here's the good news: There are plenty of smart solutions at your disposal. By leveraging technology to your advantage, you can quickly become a more effective manager. Here's how:

Technology breaks down communication barriers
Being a good leader is all about effective communication. With user-friendly software solutions, like workforce management systems or employee portals, you can easily establish two-way communication between you and your workforce. In turn, employees are given the chance to privately voice their concerns and schedule 1:1 meetings with management. Better yet, it's a great way for you to reach out and recognize your employees for their hard work and achievements – a major boon to long-term retention.

You can more effectively allocate work across the production floor
Workforce optimization tools provide enhanced visibility into your employee workloads, thus allowing you to distribute work more efficiently. Not only can this alleviate the stress of a hefty workload, but it also increases overall productivity.

Optimize employee schedules for added flexibility
In today's labor market, many job seekers are increasingly placing a premium on flexibility. In fact, 40% of job candidates worldwide agree that schedule flexibility is one of their top priorities when making career decisions, according to ManpowerGroup solutions. Managers who leverage workforce management solutions are able to optimize the amount of labor they schedule on any given day, thus allowing them to reward employees with a less intensive work schedule. Plus, you'll always have enough hands on deck for that day's operation.

Analytics can help you identify inefficiencies that are frustrating the workforce
With the additional insight and visibility that automation provides, you'll be able to identify the exact areas of your operation that are lacking efficiency and, by extension, causing frustration among employees. Investing in solutions that service these areas, in turn, can go a long way toward improving employee satisfaction.

Investing in automation will ease the physical burden of hard work
By automating the more strenuous manufacturing processes, you'll be able to save employees the physical and mental toll that they often necessitate. The result? Reduced burnout, happier employees and lower turnover rates, not to mention a more efficient operation.

Innovative, immersive training programs can keep employees engaged
According to PwC research, 77% of workers want to upskill. What does this mean for you? Simply put, you need to feed their hunger to learn. One of the best ways to engage employees and support their education is to invest in cutting-edge training tools. Whether it be augmented or virtual reality, smart solutions give employees a chance to try out new skills before they perform the real deal.