Finding the right people; keeping the right people. It's a People Puzzle.
Most of you reading this will be in business, and to some extent most of you are probably coming across the same problem:
Staff – Employees – Team Members
It doesn’t matter whether you have one member of staff or 101 or 1001, you need to find the right people. If you already have the right people…well done…no doubt you’d like to keep them.
It’s a conundrum which can be extremely difficult and time consuming to solve. Especially when your competitors are looking to poach your best people…and you’ve probably got a load of other things to do.
Like running a business for example.
Thankfully, help is at hand.
People Puzzles are experts at solving the people conundrum.
“Over the course of twelve months, we’ll have worked closely with over 400 SME client businesses,” says People Puzzles Regional Director and Business Coach, Jim Lister. “They come from every sector imaginable ranging from traditional heavy industry to hi-tech electronics and computer software. We’re not sector driven at People Puzzles for the simple reason that when it comes to finding the right people, every business, no matter how small or large, faces exactly the same problem…finding the right people and keeping the best people. We can work in any arena because our work doesn’t involve making widgets, we work with people and the challenges they bring, as well as all the good bits!
If I had to give you a typical business that would approach People Puzzles for help, I’d probably say that the firm will be ambitious and wants to grow. It could be a family firm or a business that’s brought in a new CEO/MD who wants to take their organisation to the next level. We usually see the business is getting close to a tipping point where it needs to change its people agenda if it wants to evolve. Turnover is climbing from, say £10million to £20million and the only way they can maintain that sort of growth is to invest in its people, for example through better recruitment, retention and career development.”
And it’s at this point that one of the People Directors from People Puzzles can point you and your business in the right direction.
Around the UK…and now here in the North East…there are 82 People Directors. All of them are commercially driven with impressive career backgrounds. Don’t be fooled; even though it will be a single People Director who comes to your business, behind them will be 81 others who can add their experience to any situation. Everything will be tailored to you and your business; there are no off-the-shelf remedies when it comes to the people conundrum.
If you are one of those firms that Jim mentions, then you’ve probably already got your economic forecasts sorted. You’ll have done some sums, made some predictions and now have a list of targets and ambitions. Your business strategy is in place. You’ll probably have financial, operational and marketing plans.
But do you have a people strategy?
No? Well, you should because the vast majority of firms will find that around 60-80% of their expenditure will be on staffing related costs.
So, wouldn’t it be a good idea to make sure that you have the right staff, performing to their fullest potential, going the extra mile?
Oh…and ensuring that you keep the good ones who’re already working for you?
“Finding and keeping the right people isn’t just a case of throwing some money at them,” adds Jim. “The most valued employees are those who ‘buy into’ your brand…they believe in what you’re doing and want to be part of any future success. When we work with a business, our aim is to get them onto the front foot…be ahead of the game…think differently about how people are a key resource. Get the right people and you’ll be highly competitive.”
As soon as your People Director arrives, a 2/3 day ‘discovery’ exercise will begin. It’s a case of benchmarking where the gaps are and what needs to be done. Your business strategy will be discussed as will looking at your talent, company culture, leadership team, organisational structure and of course your people processes. A People Strategy will be drawn up that begins to address the key people related priorities you face and a delivery plan put in place.
Not sure whether you need People Puzzles? Here’s a great idea. Head to the People Puzzles website and hit the HR Healthcheck tab. You can then answer a series of questions which, after a couple of minutes, will help you see where you are in terms of how your business is shaping up on the people front. Or not.
And be honest with yourself when answering the questions. As the dictionary definition of ‘conundrum’ says…”A confusing and difficult problem or question.”
Yep…that’s the perfect way to define the people challenge and to start to solve it by finding and retaining great employees.
Get in touch with People Puzzles, they are here to help you.