“How on earth can I find more of the right staff – staff I can really count on?” That’s the cry I hear from business leaders over and over – in both small and large companies.
It’s so frustrating.
Such a limiting factor to their business! What is more, finding and hiring the right staff is only half the challenge. The other issue is how to get existing staff to perform at their very best.
Stephen Covey used to ask audiences: “In your business, what is your greatest asset?” Every time the majority answer was “our staff”. Yet, when he asked, “which of you feels they are seeing anything like the full potential of those people – or even that their jobs allow them to realise their potential” there was always resounding embarrassed silence.
How to attract the right staff – and multiply their impact
Do you resonate with this problem? Just how much of a difference would it make if you could resolve it – now?
These two steps take a bit of thought and time but… once you’ve solved them you will never look back.
1. Stand for something
Very few companies work out what they stand for or what they want the eventual business to look like. That being the case, it no wonder their staff feel they are floundering and do not give their all.
Consider instead Unilever with their aim of “improving the quality of life”. Their staff pull out all the stops to fulfil this higher purpose. They bound out of bed in the morning, full of enthusiasm. They are aligned and teams are united in their joint aim. Word spreads and they attract the best talent.
Alternatively consider a tiny company, Pink and Green skincare. They also have a higher purpose – to make women feel soothed, luxurious and beautiful – using their hand-crafted face and body products. Or Pingthing, who aim to make businesses stand out from the crowd – with the full force of who they really are so they attract prospects far more effectively.
The staff in these companies feel they are part of something exciting and worthwhile – possibly the best opportunity they will ever enjoy in their career. If you would like more insight into how to build a higher purpose, I explain more in this article.
2. Clear part to play
This second step is equally important. To attract the best talent and inspire them to engage and commit fully they each need to feel they have a significant part to play… however simple or complex that may be.
So you need to carefully work that out.
Apogee are excellent at this. In the business of helping their clients to achieve their business goals – by using their expertise in document management. Every member of staff understands exactly where they stand as a unique individual. Apogee is the only company I know that will give their staff a hug (metaphorical or actual) if that’s what they need! The result – Apogee is growing at over 15% year after year – and have overtaken almost all their competition.
When will you begin?
So, when will you transform the situation in your own business?
This article first appeared on BusinessZone.co.uk here
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