OPINION
September / October 2008
Realigning the Company for Autumn
By Scott Stoppler, President
Executrade
Autumn is here. With summer holidays wrapping up, the office is fully staffed once again and company members are looking to realign goals and objectives. Renewing the company outlook might include dusting off the core values and re-examining budgets, adding members to your team, or seeking opportunities for professional development.
Autumn often brings the beginning of a new quarter for many companies, and is the perfect time to haul out the company core values to ensure they still align with the company budgetary goals and objectives. Core values remind us of our future direction, our purpose, and our big-picture goals. Now is a good time to review the plans for the next year and how they are going to be accomplished. Budget is a good tool to use to stick to the plans, and it can be used as a tool to motivate staff, especially if the company departments or divisions are in charge of setting their own budget goals. To add some excitement to the next quarter’s objectives, introduce prizes, such as a trip for two to a hot destination, to get staff motivated and involved.
Autumn is also a great time to hire new people if you are a growing company. Before you start interviews, consider requesting the help of existing employees to identify skill gaps in your talent pool. This will help you to write an accurate job description. Determine six to eight of the most important characteristics of a new addition to the team. Also, align company goals and objectives with characteristics of your best-fit candidates, for example, education, industry experience and expertise, volunteer work, language, and outside interests are some traits that may complement the direction the company is headed.
In adding to the team, you will be injecting new knowledge into the already existing team. Seek professional development seminars, conferences, and courses that will help empower your employees. After conferences and courses are finished, encourage employees to share their new expertise or knowledge with the rest of the team in a presentation, or record it in a company resource database that can be accessed by all staff members. Management can also benefit from refresher courses. An upbeat manager can have a strong motivational impact on his or her employees.
Professional associations and resources for professional development can be found at downtown business associations or your city’s chamber of commerce. Attending professional development seminars makes your company a familiar name through the faces of your employees. Plus, professional development expands your company’s overall skill base and shows your ongoing investment in employee growth. It will result in you keeping the strongest players on your team.
In summary, to prepare for fall 2008:
- Review company goals and objectives by examining core values and the budget for the next quarter
- Fill the company skill gaps with the help of present employees if you are looking to hire
- Encourage employees to sign up for fall and winter classes that will complement professional development and leverage their expertise
