Is your team as good as you would like it to be? Are you confident that your employees can help your team achieve its objectives? Can they take your company to the next level?
The ultimate long-term success of every company depends on having the right people. And, to reach the heights that the truly great companies reach, you can’t just settle for good people — you need great people.
It’s about attitude
Are you thinking that you could never get the truly great employees to come to your company? If you are, then you need to change your thinking. It doesn’t matter if your company is small. What matters is that you have both the right attitude and a strong commitment.
You have to believe that only the best will do in your company. And then you need to commit the resources and effort to back up that attitude. Although in reality it may be impossible to put together a team consisting only of A players, that should always be your objective. If you allow yourself to take the easier route and hire average employees, then you can expect your company performance to mirror that philosophy.
Your goal has to be to become a company that is a top choice for the best players. That means that you need to have an environment that makes the best people want to work at your company. Think positively. Think about what would make your company the place to be for those employees. I can almost hear the excuses — the best employees are expensive, and there is no way I could afford them. For the sake of your future, ask yourself: Can I afford not to hire the best?
By being creative, you can design compensation plans that not only attract the best but also make them affordable. And remember, although you need to be competitive, salary isn’t always the ultimate attraction.
Take mediocrity out of your vocabulary when you are forming your team. Be committed to making your company the place where the best want to be.
Joel Strom([email protected]) is the founder of Joel Strom Associates. His firm works with closely held businesses and their ownership, helping them set and achieve their growth objectives while maximizing their profitability and value. Reach him at (216) 831-2663.
