Four Ideas to Become the Employer of Choice

Having a great company goes a long way to attracting great people. It’s been that way for a long time. I don’t believe it’s a matter of size nor product mix, but rather the way the company is led, and the way current employees feel about being part of that organization.

You can see it walking through an organization. Do people make eye contact, do they seem engaged, and are they eager to help one another throughout the day? Operating a business is difficult, particularly in these transformative times where we see certain segments of the industry continuing to grow while others face challenges trying to maintain their current standing. The chasm between these two groups, I believe, continues to widen and one instrumental factor that determines what side of the equation you’re on is the strength of your people.

What you can do

Chances are you were already doing many of these things which has helped your company to thrive. If you are not, here are a few things that really don’t cost much money at all just a little bit of effort and creativity.

• If your company has been challenged by finding skilled operators, you may consider developing your own in-house training. This gives you an opportunity to establish a pipeline for entry-level people where they can work their way through to more advanced and skilled positions. This in-house training is the first step to removing the burden of finding skilled operators. There may also be local resources available to you to help establish the training program, and don’t overlook the fact of potential grants and scholarship opportunities to help fund the effort.
• The printing business today looks more like a technology business that happens to put ink and toner on substrates. The way you receive orders from customers, all the way to the automated workflows leading to offset presses, digital and inkjet devices. The customer work has gotten more complex with many more variables. Your competition for talent has never been fiercer. You’re drawing from people who have options to go into different industries. Framing your business with your tech attributes will go a long way to separate your business from the others and help attract new talent.
• You and your staff solve customer issues every single day. You do cartwheels in order to meet deadlines for their events, meetings, and customer acquisition efforts. You are true subject matter experts in the work that you do and the services that you provide. Your customers know it and reward you with trusted advisor status. Those that don’t do work with you though, aren’t aware of the magic that happens in your organization. Most companies could do well by reframing how they project the services they provide and what it really means to do business with your company. The only thing worse than not being one of the best in your business, is being the best and not letting anyone else know.
• Celebrate your people. Whether they are frontline employees, or those responsible for putting the right versions in the right trays, they all are important and they all matter. Let them know that what they do is important. Recognize them for the good work they’re doing. I don’t mean patronizing, as it needs to be authentic. Good leaders do this every day, and it helps to build and fortify the culture they have within the organization. That in turn helps attract other good people as well.

There are several great resources out there to help you in your quest. From local and regional job fairs to free webinars on how to recruit in today’s marketplace. McKinsey & Company published a timeless article that you might find useful, Attracting and retaining the right talent. One of the better books on hiring was written by Bradford D. Smart called Topgrading. Work at it. Your competitors won’t do these things because they think it’s too hard. Good luck and have fun.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to ambitious owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic insight, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.