Hiring a new employee is only the first step of the process. Once they are on the payroll, what do you need to do next?
Your People Should Set Their Own Goals
I believe that one of the reasons I started my own business was because I was tired of answering to someone else. I wanted, no, I hungered for the ability to set my own course and my own destination.
What is to say that just because the people that work for you collect a paycheck instead of profits that they do not want at least some of that same thing?
Research suggests that when given the opportunity to set their own goals, people will far exceed what their supervisor set for them. Individuals will not only set larger goals, but they will accomplish them more willingly.
The truth is that you can make people partners in your business without giving up control, stock, or even profits.
You can get everything you want from your people if you help them get what they want.
It starts with you seeing what your people want, determining what you want, and then developing goals and action plans that allow both parties to win. The larger the goals, the more people will stretch and the more your business will benefit.
Develop “The One Page Business Plan”
Many business owners have stated, “My employees don’t even know what business we are in.” If that is the case, the fault is yours, not theirs.
Start by sitting down and writing a brief description of the company. You may already have done this in a brochure, or maybe it exists on your company web site.
In either event, take this opportunity to put into as few words as possible what your business does, and who the customers are.
It might be helpful to describe the kinds of problems that your business solves or the types of needs, wants, and desires that your organization fulfills.
The next part of your one-page business plan is to outline the goals of your business. While profits may be confidential, people can be given the sales numbers.
Why is that? In our society, people like to “keep score” and they can help your business achieve its goals but only if they know what the score is.
In sports, people always want to know “what’s the score?” so why should business be any different?
The last part of your one-page business plan is to share the strategies that the business will use to achieve the goals.
For example, advertising is a strategy that many brand-recognized companies use. You would be amazed how many organizations never tell their employees when commercials will air on television.
Letting people know helps build an identity as a team. At McDonald’s, the ad schedule is provided to all employees. I remember seeing it in the break room when I was in high school, and I am sure that if I went back to that room the schedule will still be there.
The purpose of a one-page business plan is to communicate information, direction, and goals. Sharing this with all employees will set a tone that this is a “team effort.”
Strive For Employee Involvement
Seek out the input of employees. Ask for it! Say, “The business has a problem. I need your help. Do you have any thoughts?”
I cannot tell how many companies I have consulted to that did not really need my help as a consultant. Owners often feel that they have to go outside for an objective perspective.
Most companies have the answers to the problems and the resources available from their employees, if only the employees are asked!
You see, the employees know both the causes and the solutions for the company’s problems.
As a sidebar to this, understand that the reason many employees leave a company is that they do not feel appreciated or challenged enough.
As an owner, it is your responsibility to provide stimulation and growth opportunities for your employees. That does not mean a raise, or a promotion or a change in title.
It means stimulation of the mind with new and exciting work challenges. This might be the cheapest investment you will ever make in your employees.
Communication is like Water—it is Essential
Talking to employees is like watering your houseplants. If you do not nurture the growth and development of the plant, it will die.
If you do not communicate with your employees, they will shortly start to feel that you do not care about them, or do not care about their livelihood.
An employee or employees with a poor attitude can ruin a business faster than any competitor can.
Research suggests that most employees do not think they get enough communication. As the owner, you need to state, then repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat information over and over and over again.
It sounds tedious and time consuming. It is.
The goal behind this is to establish relationships and trust within your business. It all start and end with communication with your employees; every single one of them.
