21Mar

How small business owners can build
their team for the long term

In the midst of a global pandemic, it may be more crucial than ever that businesses have reliable talent to navigate an uncertain future. But with foundational changes to the ways we run our businesses, a flooded candidate pool, and the challenge of onboarding remotely, building an effective team can feel overwhelming.

Despite it all, it’s still possible for small businesses to attract talent, engage their teams, increase retention, and ultimately grow! Here are seven simple ideas for attracting and retaining talent that hold true no matter what’s happening in our world.

No. 1: Create a Culture of Collaboration

Employees leave bosses, not companies. If a manager is ineffective or unsupportive, employees may feel marginalized or underappreciated, which increases the rate of attrition. Small businesses have the opportunity to make employees feel like their voice matters by involving them in decisioning and strategizing. In today’s business environment, there’s no room for an us vs them culture.

No. 2: Ensure Your Employees Feel Like Owners

The great game of business is a business methodology and set of integrated tools proven to engage employees to drive profitability and sustainability. (It’s also the name of a book around the concept, written by Jack Slack.) Business transparency ensures that every employee is involved with the understanding and tracking of key business numbers. If there’s a decision to be made, people with relevant knowledge or expertise are asked their opinions — and rank doesn’t matter.

No. 3: Conduct Behavioral/Cultural Assessments

Considering “fit” in the hiring process is one of the best ways to hire the right talent and increase engagement and retention. Risch Results believes by using a reliable behavioral assessment to measure the innate characteristics of how a person thinks and is truly wired, employers can create teams that are more productive.    

No. 4: Brand Your Business

Every external and internal communication is an opportunity to brand your business as employee centric. Whether posting on LinkedIn, a blog, or the company website, communicate what makes your company unique, reinforce your mission, and highlight how your employees have helped you get to where you are. 

No. 5: Seek Feedback and Refine Accordingly

A business can’t grow without understanding what’s working — and what needs improvement. Provide employees with the tools and solutions they need to successfully perform their responsibilities. Talk to your employees about what they like and what they wish would change by conducting “stay interviews.”  And engage your employees in the solution process. 

No. 6: Practice Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an important leadership skill.  As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”  One way to build this skill is to practice empathy by seeing situations from the perspective of your employees.  A culture that encourages forgiveness will improve well-being and increase productivity. 

No. 7: Consider the intrinsic benefits of the position

Leaders need to know the non-financial benefits of a position to attract and keep the best talent.  The best talent is interested in a career, not a position. You don’t have to be Toyota to offer your employees opportunities for growth and development.  Equally important is an opportunity to work with talented colleagues.  If the company is too small, consider affiliating with trade organizations and training events.  7

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