| I. Find the right people | | | | not do much for your business. And your |
| | | | other employees will not enjoy working with |
| This is one of the most important things that | | | | them either, bringing down morale and |
| a business owner or manager can do. The | | | | production drastically. A nice person can |
| smaller the business the more important it | | | | learn anything; they are pleasant to be |
| is. It has been said that most of us choose | | | | around and are easy to teach. They learn |
| our spouse with great care, and rear our | | | | quickly, so if they do not have the exact |
| children with compassionate attention. Yet | | | | skill set you are looking for, consider the |
| we tend to select the people who will join | | | | possibility of some training. |
| our company on the basis of an interview or | | | | |
| two, and once they have joined, they often | | | | V. How do you find the right people? |
| find they must fend for themselves. Bad | | | | |
| employees not only affect an employer by | | | | Consider the unconventional when interviewing |
| driving down sales, costing a company expense | | | | a potential employee. The more often you can |
| by negligence or simple lack of motivation, | | | | set a scenario that a potential employee will |
| but they affect the customer as well. | | | | not expect the better. It will give you a |
| | | | chance to see what the person is really |
| II. Should the Customer come first? | | | | capable of, as a person. During the |
| | | | interview process were they down to earth or |
| If you want quality employees, and expect to | | | | were they focused solely on success, and more |
| be hiring someone who is as dedicated to the | | | | success? The success driven person may not |
| business as the owner or manager, without any | | | | be the best choice. Why should the hiring |
| consideration being given to the employee's | | | | interview be conducted in a formal, stuffy |
| personal needs, thoughts and aspirations, | | | | atmosphere? Let them meet other staff, maybe |
| think again! When a business puts its | | | | on a social occasion, or as part of a |
| employees first, many things happen. The | | | | competitive sporting situation, or part of a |
| employee is happy and the service that the | | | | team. |
| employee provides the customer, whether an | | | | |
| internal or external customer, is far | | | | Are they the sort of person who is bent on |
| superior, and the business will succeed. | | | | winning at all costs and become angry, are |
| Treat employees as people, not as robots. | | | | they the type who talks only of themselves |
| Treat them with respect, and their ideas, | | | | and boasts of things they have done? |
| thoughts and suggestions with respect. | | | | |
| | | | Do they converse at all? |
| III. Work environment | | | | |
| | | | What is their attitude to honesty, safety, |
| An open friendly atmosphere, where employees | | | | reliability, work ethics, workplace |
| are able to contribute and offer ideas and | | | | aggression, etc.? |
| suggestions, without ridicule or negative | | | | |
| response, sparks creativity and empowers them | | | | Apart from the standard questions on hours or |
| to contribute more to the business. If | | | | shifts they prefer to work, or not work, find |
| everyone feels as though they are part of the | | | | out their response to questions such as: |
| leadership process and not just an anonymous | | | | |
| face they will have a satisfying feeling that | | | | What's the hardest job you've had and how |
| can go a long way. Have they been made part | | | | long were you there? |
| of creating a Vision for the business, or in | | | | |
| contributing to the Strategic Business Plan? | | | | Have you ever been fired or asked to resign? |
| It makes them feel more as though the | | | | Explain. |
| business respects them and will put them | | | | |
| first. If that consideration is instilled in | | | | Tell me about the times you have been given |
| an employee's mind, they will put in the | | | | extra responsibilities, a promotion, an |
| effort to show appreciation. | | | | increase in pay or salary. |
| | | | |
| IV. Hiring people who will fit in | | | | Most business owners or managers do their |
| | | | hiring on knowledge and skill, but terminate |
| Experience and certificates are ways of | | | | on personality and attitude. Also very few |
| measuring an applicant's qualifications and | | | | managers have had interview skills training. |
| potential, but are they good people? A | | | | Selecting the right person is not a gut feel |
| person can be the most qualified, educated | | | | process - approach it that way and you and |
| and experienced potential employee but if | | | | your customers will pay the price. |
| they don't have a nice personality they will | | | | |