Q. How do you engage employees?
That’s hard to do early on when you are new in your role because you want to prove yourself. I have been through that. Now that I have matured, I realize it’s not about me. You can also very much adopt that saying when it comes to running your company. When you focus on those kinds of things, it’s pretty easy to not worry about taking credit.
When do you let go as an owner and a leader, you truly have to have 100 percent faith in your people. As long as you’re there, it’s a safety net.
If I was here in the office less, it would force those kinds of things. Something about physically being here, you’re involved in the business. My goal in the next five years is to move in that direction. I’ll have to communicate it more to my staff. ‘Hey, guess what, I am only going to be here two or three days a week. You guys are going to have to make decisions.’
Some of these people have been with me 20 years. If I provide the right environment and right opportunity, the odds are really good they are going to grow with me. If not, I have done something wrong.
Show your staff how they can benefit. Before we started these two new divisions, we had about 12 employees. Now we have 20 employees. Show them, ‘Here is the opportunity.’
As we do multiple things, one of my key people from the staffing side, his career has changed. Other people have had opportunities where we have been able to show what’s in it for them.
Q. How do you find and keep the right people?
It starts with a very simple vision and then you hire the people to match the vision. It’s changing lives one job at a time. Our philosophy is that we’re talking about getting people jobs. We see unbelievable stories about how we’ve changed lives and the vision of changing lives is really powerful.
It is a servant-minded vision, and you have to hire to match that vision.
It is the relationship with your direct supervisor. If you do not have an exciting product, you better be a great leader when it comes to people skills. You’ll keep your people that way. If you don’t, you will have a revolving door.
Q. How do you engage clients in your firm’s evolution?
The lead person, the owner, president or CEO, would put that on the top of his business plan. I need to build significant relationships with my clients. Just ask these people. People like to help people.
As an owner, just ask, ‘Would you share 30 minutes with me to talk about my business?’ The person who turns that down is probably not going to be a valued client. They are looking for the lowest-priced vendor. You need to challenge yourself and get face to face with your key clients.
How to reach: Superior Staffing Inc., (330) 253-8080 or www.superiorstaffing.com