Hiring and retention was on everyone’s minds at this year’s Central Environmental Nursery and Tradeshow, hosted by the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association in Columbus, Ohio.
“How many of you would use more employees if we gave them to you?” asked Monroe Porter, president of PROOF Management Consultants, in one of his Wednesday sessions. The majority of the room raised their hands.
As a conference and trade show for all parts of the green industry, many of the educational sessions centered on running your business in regards to your employees.
Here are a few takeaways:
- During the keynote on Monday, Jeni Britton Bauer, founder and owner of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, spoke about her business and how she’s built it to what it is today. Bauer stressed that “Every company is a community” and “your community is a lush garden if you nurture it, and it withers and dies if you don’t.” She also said it is important to remember that customers are a part of that community too.
- When it comes to running your company, Bauer said the 21st century has provided more tools, such as social media, that weren’t around when she started her business. Those tools help with bringing people, such as customers, together. She says a good company will bring customers in and listen to what they have to say.
- In regards to the competition, Bauer said you have to know who you are and who you’re not. A good company understands what it does that’s different than anybody else. You should also know that when it comes to your business, be creative but think inside the box. “You need to know your parameters,” Bauer said. “That’s the box you create.”
- In one of Porter’s sessions, he spoke on how to find, train, motivate and retain employees. Porter said it’s important to recruit on work ethic and teach on skill. “I can teach someone a skill, but it’s very difficult to teach someone how to work,” he said. When it comes to training, he said to do it pre-job, not post-job. “Tell them what to do, show them what to do, let them try it, observe the results, and then praise or redirect,” he said. The first day of the job is when you start, because the person will listen to you and you’re not addressing anything critical that they’ve done.
- Porter also stressed what leadership means, and how to be a better leader for your employees. He suggested making an appointment every week with a different employee so you can check in to see how they’re doing. “Leadership is about being involved and connecting with people,” he said.
- Hiring for your business should be done proactively, according to Seth Nicholson, president and chief operating officer of The Bruce Company. “A lot of people are always reactive instead of proactive,” he said. His company tries to forecast six months ahead, which can be challenging, but he said it’s better to have extra than to fall short.
- Karin Noecker, director of horticulture for Franklin Park Conservatory, presented her personal management top 10 rules for bettering both yourself and your team:
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1. Always admit when I have made a mistake |