In a recent online poll, Lawn & Landscape asked contractors what they found to be their biggest human resources challenge. Of the 56 respondents, 4 percent cited writing a company manual as their trickiest task, while disciplining employees and building a company training program each garnered 6 percent of the votes. 13 percent of contractors noted that employee retention was their biggest challenge, but nearly 50 percent of respondents acknowledged that finding qualified employees is their biggest HR issue.
In his article “Top Ten Tips to Attract, Retain and Motivate Employees,” Don Grimme, co-founder of GHR Training Solutions, Coral Springs, Fla., offered the following advice for keeping your business staffed for maximum efficiency:
1. Pay employees fairly and well, then get them to forget about money.
2. Treat each and every employee with respect. Show them that you care about them as persons, not just as workers.
3. Praise accomplishments...and attempts:
4. Clearly communicate goals, responsibilities and expectations. NEVER criticize in public - redirect in private.
5. Recognize performance appropriately and consistently:
Reward outstanding performance (e.g., with promotions and opportunities)
Do not tolerate sustained poor performance - coach & train or remove!
6. Involve employees in plans and decisions, especially those that affect them. Solicit their ideas and opinions. Encourage initiative.
7. Create opportunities for employees to learn & grow. Link the goals of the organization with the goals of each individual in it.
8. Actively listen to employees concerns - both work-related and personal.
9. Share information - promptly, openly and clearly. Tell the truth … with compassion.
10. Celebrate successes and milestones reached - organizational and personal. Create an organizational culture that is open, trusting and fun.
Find more information in the Free GHR newsletters available through their Web site.
The author is Assistant Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at lspiers@lawnandlandscape.com.