Six Ways To Create A Great Working Environment

by Diane Herbert and Pamela Millard

How do companies create the environment necessary to attract and retain the best employees? Here are six ways that profitable businesses can build their competitive advantage:

1. Bench strength. The organization allows and encourages people to prepare for their next job. When vacancies occur, the best people are waiting to fill them. The leaders of these businesses understand that trying to find experienced people to hire is iffy at best. While experienced candidates from other agencies can bring new ideas and a broader perspective, they also bring along their bad habits.
2. Training and development. There's formal training for new employees and ongoing training for everyone to help them improve skills and maintain their edge. Training goes beyond the minimum requirements for continuing education credits. The leaders of profitable businesses recognize the need to encourage professionalism at all levels of the organization. They encourage mentoring (which is different from training) because they know it's key to the successful development of new employees. They provide their employees with intellectual challenge and the opportunity to grow.
3. Connected work environment. A profitable business has a strategic vision, and goals that energize the organization by connecting with the personal values of the people who work there. There are clearly communicated expectations for all employees and personal as well as financial rewards for meeting them. Employees take ownership of their jobs and are accountable for results. The leaders of these businesses encourage their employees to have fun and to take pride in the contribution they make to the organization and to the community. They support their employees' need to balance their personal and business lives.
4. Tools to do the job. Employees have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively. Technology drives processes, and workflow really works. The leaders of these businesses understand that even the best people cannot overcome systems and procedures that perpetuate duplication and errors.
5. Appropriate rewards. Employees are paid fairly and competitively, and compensation includes benefit packages that have both necessary and nice-to-have features. More important, employees understand how their compensation is tied to performance and attainment of results. Achievement is routinely recognized, and successes are celebrated. The leaders of these businesses also understand that rewards come in many forms and that employees respond based on their own personal values and priorities.
6. Ongoing recruitment. Bringing new qualified, top-quality people into the organization is an ongoing activity. Everyone in the agency gets involved.

Creating an environment that attracts and keeps great people isn't just a challenge. It's an opportunity to be 30-40% more profitable. People are the greatest asset of any business, and great people create competitive advantage.