The People Factor
What separates your business from your competitor? If you’re smart its not price, but people. I’ve seen businesses selling the exact same thing (it could be car washes, house cleaning, computer repairs, or even a product such as filtered water) and the single most important thing that distinguishes one business from the other is people.
Here are five suggestions for getting the most out of your people factor:
1. Find good people. Find people who believe in your business and who like what they do. People who just need a paycheck will eventually be indentured servants (meaning they have no where else to go and rely on you to keep them). You actually want employees who have options to go elsewhere – they work for your business because they choose to.
2. Realize that your staff represents your business. Your staff can be the differentiator between your business and you competitor’s business. This difference is magnified when things do go well. How your employees handle bad situations can really set your business apart from the competition. Spend time training your employees to deliver the image and message you want.
3. Lavish praise. Always look for the best in your employees. Catch them doing something right and let them know that you noticed. If an employee does something wrong don’t criticize. Instead train and use the opportunity to foster employee development.
4. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Have fun. Laugh often. Share your foibles and successes. Allow your employees to have fun with you and to laugh with you. Your customers will also be impressed with the atmosphere of fun and employees who enjoy work.
5. Work to accomplish not to be busy. If everyone knows what needs to be done then most people are willing to work to accomplish the goal. Don’t silo your employees into just their jobs. Let them participate in the bigger picture of what the company’s goals are. The more you share the more the employees can help you accomplish.
Here are five suggestions for getting the most out of your people factor:
1. Find good people. Find people who believe in your business and who like what they do. People who just need a paycheck will eventually be indentured servants (meaning they have no where else to go and rely on you to keep them). You actually want employees who have options to go elsewhere – they work for your business because they choose to.
2. Realize that your staff represents your business. Your staff can be the differentiator between your business and you competitor’s business. This difference is magnified when things do go well. How your employees handle bad situations can really set your business apart from the competition. Spend time training your employees to deliver the image and message you want.
3. Lavish praise. Always look for the best in your employees. Catch them doing something right and let them know that you noticed. If an employee does something wrong don’t criticize. Instead train and use the opportunity to foster employee development.
4. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Have fun. Laugh often. Share your foibles and successes. Allow your employees to have fun with you and to laugh with you. Your customers will also be impressed with the atmosphere of fun and employees who enjoy work.
5. Work to accomplish not to be busy. If everyone knows what needs to be done then most people are willing to work to accomplish the goal. Don’t silo your employees into just their jobs. Let them participate in the bigger picture of what the company’s goals are. The more you share the more the employees can help you accomplish.
Comments