Three Tips to PERC* Up Your Business for June 2008

You will notice there are only three tips this month. This is
because I am recovering nicely from an accident and am
working one handed. Enjoy.

This month, my tips are about helping your employees
grow. This doesn’t mean feeding them pie everyday. It means
helping them to be the best person they can be, ensuring they
will be the best employee they can be.
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Tip #1 – Growing in the workplace

Very few employees are satisfied filling out the same
reports and shipping the same orders day after day,
year after year.

Yes, it is comforting to know what’s expected of you,
but it is much more fun to be able to show the boss
what you are really capable of.

Allow your employees to cross train. On a slow day,
let them switch jobs. This will not only help them to
learn more about how your company works, but will
also allow them to “Walk a mile in another’s shoes.”

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Tip #2 – Growing outside the workplace

Regardless of popular belief, your employees DO have a
life outside of the job. They will tend to bring this to
work with them no matter how hard they try to leave it at home.

Rather than fight this, accept it. As a matter of fact, not
only acknowledge it, but understand their situations.

This tip might even cost you up to $100 per employee
(compared to >$5,000 to replace them).

In every major city, and in most towns, there are
Learning Annexes. This may be through a community
college, vocational college etc.

Gift your employees one class per year. Whether it is
bookkeeping, parenting classes or pole dancing for
physical fitness, let your employees know that you
are interested in their growth both inside the office and out.
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Tip #3 – Growing in the community

Back in the 1970s it was a requirement that business
people belong to a service organization such as Rotary,
Kiwanis etc. Now it is looked upon as an interruption to
the workday. Many businesses are finding the dues
to be an expense that they would rather spend elsewhere.

We spend a lot of time teaching our children how to do
the right thing, we should also do the same for our employees.

These service organizations exist to help people that
would otherwise slip through the cracks. Allowing, even
encouraging your employees to be part of something
bigger than themselves will give them a sense of worth
and pride. Aren’t these traits you want in your employees?

And also remember:
"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living."
Gail Sheehy