new talent and coach/mentor your team whenever possible. I n the book From Good to Grea t, Jim Collins talks about first getting the right people on the bus and then making sure they are in the right seat on the bus. You may come across someone who is an “A,” but you don’t know exactly where he or she will fit on the team. It is strongly recommended to add them, get them on the team and then find their role or position. So we found a candidate, made them an offer and they have accepted. Now what? The first few weeks of their time on the team sets the tone for the future. It is important that a new employee feels comfortable and that they are embarking on a well-thought-out process. It is a good idea to have a checklist of items to remember when adding a new employee. Will they need a desk, a phone or a computer? Will they need business cards or an iMail account? RIC Access? Shirts? What does their day look like? Who will they be shadowing and when? It’s also a good idea to have an outline for the first week or two that shows each thing they need to see or do. Make sure the other team members also have a copy so that everyone is doing what needs to be done to support the new team member and make them feel welcome. Finally, never stop developing yourself as the recruiter. You should not only be honing your skills on selling the opportunity to top recruits, but also working on your ability to create and develop a team of winners that also wins together. It takes a culture that is developed by a leader – a leader that inspires people to want to align themselves with you and build something they believe in as a part of your business. Whether you reach out to others for input, listen to podcasts or read a book, always be committed to improving your leadership skills. THE FACILITIES Depending on where you are now in your business, you may be just starting out and operating from your home, or you may be in a large commercial space. Regardless of what the
space is or where it is, what does it portray? When the team shows up for work, are they inspired by the facility? Just like with our personal appearance, the business never gets a second chance to make a good first impression. The right time to grow into a new space will be different for each business. What is most important in any facility is not the size of the space, but whether or not that space is used effectively to generate revenues and whether the cost is generating a relative increase in return. When considering the “where,” keep in mind the pros and cons of the options. Operating from your home in the beginning can save money in startup, but how feasible is it to have employees showing up for work there? If you are considering a “main street” location, you’ll may pay more, and will you expect walk-in traffic? How does being in a higher visibility area generate a return on investment? If you are considering a location off the beaten path, which can be more affordable, keep in mind the potential loss of name recognition and awareness with the public. Again, regardless of which it is, think about the environment and consider if you personally would choose it over a competitor’s location as your workplace of choice. A professional image may tip the scale in your favor for a prospective employee. The best office environments are modern, clean, bright, neat and well organized. The office reflects the personality of the business. When it comes to the layout of the office, consider this – if I give someone a door to his or her office, they can close it. If I give them a desk with a chair, they can sit at it. Therefore, if I have a project manager that I want to be in the field, giving them an office with a desk and door could be problematic. The training room is an important room your facility and may be one of the few rooms inside the office that your technicians really spend their time. It needs to be conducive to learning, sharing and interacting. Take these key items into consideration:
30 STORMSURGE TM | E1:2017
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