When you own a business, you realize quickly why most people simply work for someone else, content to show up at a job and collect a paycheck. Keep this in mind when the time comes for you to hire your own employees for your small business.
You will strive to hire people who understand and buy into your vision and are capable of delivering it to your customers. The ones who get it will be invaluable employees. The ones who don't…Well, that's another story.
Your challenge is to find people who will simply do five things:
1. Show up for work ready to perform the duties for which you're paying them.
2. Have a positive attitude.
3. Treat each other and your customers with courtesy and respect.
4. Check their drama at the door.
5. Not steal from you.
You will work hard to keep the "revolving door" of employees at a minimum by investing time and money on training, providing a safe and comfortable work environment, and recognizing your staff with rewards when they perform well. Even still, you will be amazed at how difficult and time-consuming it is to get your employees to do what you've asked, much less paid, them to do.
That's because nobody cares about your business as much as you do. So you have to find "rock stars" and understand what motivates them to "play your song" and be a "member of the band."
- Is it recognition?
- Is it money?
- Is it creative freedom?
- Is it having special projects above and beyond their normal workload?
- Is it time off to volunteer or take a class?
- Is it a path to promotion?
Managing employees in your small business is easier said than done, for sure. However, once you know the secrets to their success, communicate your vision to your employees in a way that matters to them and allows them to perform their jobs with enthusiasm and a stake in your success.
Also, recognize your own tendencies to get involved in your staff's personal situations. Oftentimes, we want to approach managing our people with a "human touch," but we have to be mindful of which situations are best to remain a neutral, disinterested observer and which require guidance or a resolution path for an issue that could have a significant impact on you or your business.
Putting all of these elements into practice requires hard work and dedication. Surround yourself with "rock stars" – i.e., talented and passionate people who view have a stake in your business and its success – and you'll be making "music" for your business and delivering great products and services to your customers.
