What are you doing to keep good employees?

By John Sonnhalter, Rainmaker Journeyman, Sonnhalter

We’re in a service business, and I always say our assets walk up and down the stairs every day. The key to any good company is great people. This is especially true in smaller companies where every “body” needs to be the right person.

I recently read a book by Andrew Bennett, The Talent Mandate: Why Smart Companies put People First, that outlines sure-fire ways of keeping great people. Here are some highlights:

  • Don’t put jerks in management just because they’ve been around for a while; it doesn’t mean they are ready to manage others. No matter who you put there, they need to be able to think out of the box and come to the table with new and fresh ideas.
  • Hire for the future, not the past – Choose talent that has a broader perspective on life and can adapt to the world of today.
  • Measure results, not hours  unless you run a factory. Focus on the end game, not how they got there. There’s plenty of ways to get to a goal; be open to new ideas.
  • Mix old with new – If your company is big enough, include different generations on teams to get a better perspective on solving a problem. A good idea can come from anywhere and the Millennials have a lot to offer and are willing to learn.
  • Formal training program – No matter how big or small your company is, if you want them to move up the ladder, you need to get them exposed to different aspects of your business. Someone in sales may need to do a stint in customer service or production scheduling to have a greater appreciation of the bigger picture.
  • Empower your team – The best way for anyone to make good decisions is have all the facts. Don’t hoard info or rationale on why you want to do something.

What are you doing to keep good people?

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