Are you ripe and rotting or green and growing?

They say actions speak louder than words.  So why is it that some businesses say they value their employees? They publish it on their website (because it looks and sounds great!), they wish to build loyalty, commitment and have the employees contribute to the success of the business, but their actions don’t sit comfortably alongside their words, either spoken or published! High performing teams cannot simply perform, you need to make an investment in them; and only when what you say and do aligns will that investment pay off.

We often speak with employers to get to the crux of their operational issues – what’s the one thing that would improve your business today?  The top three answers rank in this order:

1. Hire better quality and or competent staff;
2. Achieve better productivity and team performance; and
3. Improve cash flow

The answers are all challenges which – no matter which industry – have proven to be close to the top of the most significant difficulties faced by organisations.  When it comes to hiring the right talent, we expect they will be competent and bring new skills to the business.  It costs time, money and resources we usually don’t have.

Businesses we have spoken with trust that where ever these “new talents’ have come from, they have been suitably trained to be able to competently and capably do their job right.

Awesome!

So when we ask what investment the company is making in driving performance and improvement in their existing talents in bridging any competency gaps. Building pride and confidence in their team, which aligns nicely with their commitment and values?

We get various versions of Blinky Bill.  Wide eyed and confusion across their face.  There have been umpteen published reports highlighting that it costs more to bring in a new recruit than invest in your existing team.

So what scares, prohibits or stops these organisations investing in their existing staff?  You have to ask yourself a serious question at this point, if you’re not interested in developing the skills and knowledge of your existing talents, or team then it’s strongly suggested you have to deselect these people, as they are the wrong fit for your business. Building your team and you’re business takes time and investment, and sure sometimes that investment can walk out the door.  Let’s be honest – this can be hugely annoying / disappointing and frustrating – absolutely!

No matter if you have bought a house, investment unit, shares or a lotto ticket – you have made an investment.  Sometimes that investment has paid off, other times it hasn’t – but it doesn’t stop you from still having a go.  Investing in your team and subsequently the business pays dividends with increasing competency and thus increased productivity which then flows into the ability to invoice quicker – cash flow! Building capacity into your business is paramount if you want to grow – let your team grow with you by bringing them along on the journey. Create a culture of high performance that’s supported by process, training an sharing of knowledge.  You’d be really surprised how engaged they would be if you gave them the opportunity, and not just because they had to, but because you value them and wish to reward and grow them.

WOW that’s now in line with your advertising and your words – now you’ve got the rubber hitting the road too.

What’s your organisations commitment to investment in your people, does your marketing and words align with what you actually do?  Are you Rotting or Growing?