by Beth | Mar 23, 2022 | Company Culture, Employee Hiring, Employee Retention
Imagine that you are starting your new job today. You have your new outfit, your new backpack, and your lunchbox. You are so excited but also a bit nervous. You can’t wait to get started! This is the dream job that you have wanted for a long time! You arrive 5 minutes early, open the door and walk up to the reception desk.
Scenario 1: There is no one to greet you. You sit for 30 minutes before someone comes out and says, “No one knew you were coming today!” You are placed in your office to fill out paperwork, and see no one else for hours. Then you are told that you will meet your hiring manager next week, because they are on vacation and oh by the way, your computer won’t arrive for 2 weeks.
Or
Scenario 2: You arrive 5 minutes early and the receptionist says, “We are so excited that you are here!” Your new boss greets you enthusiastically and shows you your office with a balloon tied to your chair and a welcome sign on your door. Your computer sits on your desk gleaming, and you are handed your itinerary for the week. You put your things down, and your boss invites you into a conference room where they have a breakfast to introduce you to your team. The whole team rallies around you, and you feel touched, moved and inspired.
Who will stay in their job longer?
Here is the secret to retention: it starts from minute 1. If you want your employees to stay and be productive, you must set the stage for them to be successful from the very beginning. Most people naively believe that retention starts in the end with stay interviews, exit interviews and going away parties. But retaining your employees is an ongoing effort from hiring the right person for the role, training them fully and completely, and incorporating them into the department as fast as possible.
POWER THOUGHT: Want your people to stay? Value them before they even start.
A big shout out to Cassy Nicholl for the topic!
by Beth | Mar 9, 2022 | Company Culture, Employee Hiring
Over the course of 3 years, our family rescued 37 animals, fostered them and got them adopted into great homes. One of my all-time favorites was a lab mix named Angel. And she was an angel! She was so sweet and loving, and she stayed right with you, no matter where you went.
We lived near a park, but in order to get there, we had to cross a very busy street. I always put a leash on Angel before walking over there, just to be safe. And frankly, it pissed her off. She would look up at me like “Dude. I got this. Why the hell are you putting a leash on me?”
Last week, a friend of mine quit her long-time job as a fundraiser for a high-powered non-profit. She ran the department that raised 8 million dollars in 2021. She quit, because the Executive Director insisted that my friend show up at 8 am and stay until 5. After working there for 9 1/2 years, my friend was justifiably insulted. She gave a 6 month notice to see if things would change. They didn’t, so she left.
I have heard story after story of details, just like this one. When you as the leader put leashes on employees who have consistently proven themselves, they will start looking for another job. Then, you lose a great employee, and you have to start over with someone new. What good does this do for anyone? My advice? Hire a lab that walks themselves, step back, and let them shine!
Power thought: Leashes work during training. They do not work for long-term, high-performing and trustworthy employees.
by Beth | Feb 23, 2022 | Company Culture
One year ago today, a mangled, scruffy little kitten wandered into my daughter’s apartment. She was hungry, tired, skinny and scared. My daughter, Katy, decided right then and there that she had to help this tiny being that she ultimately named, Dani Lou. Fast forward to today. Dani Lou is a fluffy, happy adventurous cat who fetches and sits for treats on command.
Over Christmas, Katy and Dani Lou came to visit me, and every morning Katy and I would compare notes on Dani Lou’s night-time activities. Our conversations went like this:
Me: Did Dani sleep with you last night?
Katy: Yes, for a while. Then she left.
Me: What do you think she does all night?
Katy: Cat work.
Here is the bottom line: you as the manager don’t know what your staff does all day every day. You especially don’t know all the daily activities of your remote workers. And yet, they get their work done. They meet deadlines. Your clients are thrilled with the work that your company does, and they tell you that. Do you really need to know every minute of every day what your staff is doing? Once your employee earns your trust, give them some free reign to learn something new.
You might be surprised at what they create.
Power thought: Let them do their cat work. Then, you can purr in satisfaction.
by Beth | Feb 9, 2022 | Employee Hiring
A few weeks ago, I had the most awkward thing happen in an interview. I mean, it happens. And every time I think that I have seen it all, some candidate does or says something so completely random. And in this instance, unprofessional.
I was interviewing over the phone for a Project Manager. I called him on the phone and told him that my clients were listening in on his interview. He was very excited and said so.
Then, I hear him urinating. And flush. And wash his hands.
At least he washed his hands, but really?
There are so many things wrong with this scenario, it’s hard to know where to begin. At the very least, this is a professional interview, and this behavior shows a gross lack of preparation. Do you want this candidate urinating while he is on the phone with your clients? I think not. Do I need to say that you take care of your bodily functions before you call a client or have an interview? I guess so.
For all of my clients, in an interview you are seeing the best of the best of a candidate. Is this the best you want to hire?
For those of you who are seeking interview advice: Prior preparation prevents piss-poor performance. Literally.
Power thought: You have NEVER seen it all… I promise.
by Beth | Jan 26, 2022 | Attitude, Company Culture
As many of you know, my daughter Katy was adopted by a stray cat named Dani Lou. This cat literally walked in the door of Katy’s apartment, and she never left. She fetches toys and brings them back, and this cat sits for treats! Never seen anything like it.
One day, Katy heard the cat in the trash. Dani Lou pulled out a string that had come off a pair of sweatpants and began tossing it around the room and fetching it. She put it in her mouth and brought it to Katy to throw for her. When Dani catches her string and pulls it away, she prances back to Katy to have her throw it again. She has such pride in her steps! She has her head held high and dances her way back to you to show you what she has done. “Mr. String” goes everywhere with Dani Lou!
I had a bookkeeper one time who wanted to change the way that I did my books. I was hesitant at first, because I couldn’t really understand what she was wanting to do. What she was describing was way over my head, but she was so compelled to do it, I finally just let her. When she came back to me, she was SO proud of the work that she had done. It was written all over her face when she pranced into my office to present my spotless books.
The key to happy employees is this; as often as possible, let them take the string and run with it. When you have employees on staff that take ownership of their work and are allowed to pursue the best way to complete their tasks, they too have immense pride in their work. They are happier, they stay longer, and they put their best foot forward, which means you can too.
Power thought: Don’t string your employees along in a way that they hate. Let them take the string and lead you. You will both prance with pride.
