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Finding Good Staff

Debra Templar-Group - Thursday, October 01, 2009
It seems to be a common refrain from all small  business owners - "it's so HARD finding good staff". hairdresser gone mad  Well, maybe some of our criteria are out of whack.  Now, unless you're after a neurosurgeon or a motor mechanic (both equally important, in my mind) maybe we've given too much credence to resumes.  Instead, maybe we should utilise our intuition and what we SEE on the day. 

For a number of years now (and no, I'm not going to tell you how many) I've used the "Bright Eyes Principle"...  which simply says:  'If you don't have bright eyes, you don't get past the first interview'.   I'm not interested in prompting slug eyed people to do a good job. They don't.  They destroy businesses. 

How?  "I don't know", "Can I Help You?", "I'll have to ask the manager"....and on and on and on.  They irritate customers, frustrate managers and owners and tend to only do the
minimum.

Me?  I want someone who can do the Maximum, not the Minimum.  Hence, no slugs - only bright eyed people for me. Bright-eyed people are willing.  Willing to be of service.  Willing to admit they don't know - but will find it out.  Willing to follow up.  Willing to clean as they go.  Willing to multi-task. Willing to learn. Willing to take direction.  Willing to take correction.  Willing.  A mighty powerful word.(btw I also use this principle when I'm deciding to do business with a company, spend money in an establishment, pick which counter to go to in the bank and...well, you get my drift.)

Now, as business owners, we also need to step up to the mark.  Lead from the front.  Be the type of staff member you want yours to be.  Don't be the " do as I say and not as I do" boss.  That type of attitude breeds slugs.

Here is a really easy way to show that you do have a valuable member of the team.  Give them an official printed business card with
their name on it.  How demeaning to have blank cards where we expect our 'valuable' staff to write their names.  'Very valuable'?  I don't think so.  Words are cheap.  Actions are what count. 

What are you saying about your staff?

Debra Templar

Debra Templar swingtag
Retail Staffing
Customer Service

      

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   Over the past 20 something years I have gained many skills and worked with fabulous people! I am a retail enthusiast, keynote speaker, consultant and business coach, trainer, author and 'doer'.
Debra Templar: www.thetemplargroup.com.au   www.twitter.com/debratemplar   wwww.linkedin.com/DebraTemplar