Employees and hiring, hiring and employees… that’s so much of what we’re being asked about in our coaching sessions. So, what’s the trick? Why is it so hard and is it going to ever get easier? While I don’t have the answer to all of that, I’d love to give you some thoughts today on how to make it easier.

Hope you’re doing well today, Thomas Joyner with the Business on Purpose Podcast today! Excited to have you listening and watching.

There really is nothing more pressing right now for small business owners than the topic of hiring and acquiring really great employees. It’s so frustrating… and look at the numbers. 4.3 million Americans left their jobs for somewhere else… in August of 2021 ALONE!!! That’s insane. And since the pandemic started, surveys are recording 20% of people have switched careers. In 2 years. 1 in 5 people! So what do we do with that? All of that uncertainty and the knowledge that everyone is hiring and everyone is looking around?

Most businesses think if they can just craft the right indeed ad or just find the right spot to market themselves to potential hires it will all go well. But there is so much work internally that needs to be done to attract the right talent.

There’s an old quote in the church that applies incredibly well to business. What you win them “through,” you win them “to.” What you win them through you win them to. What that means is this. The means through which you attract people will be what you have to continue to use to keep them. 

Think about this in your business. If you hire someone away from another business by offering an extra $2/hr or an extra 10k in salary, what happens the next time someone offers them more money? You either have to pony up the cash or watch them ride off into the sunset. You won them to you through money, so you have to keep them with money. 

Maybe you explain to them that they will be on some really cool projects or innovating in the industry. Well, once work gets boring they will start looking around for greener pastures or other businesses that may be more innovative than you.

So, how are you trying to attract new employees? Have you put in the hard work to not just market your business to new clients, but new employees. Are you a “destination” business that has all the right ingredients to attract top end talent? Or heck, even just reliable talent?

Are you pointing to your Vision, and inviting in people who want to go where your business is headed? Are you pointing to the culture and having your employees highlight how great it is to work for you? Are you marketing yourself as a place that respects work/life balance and allowing your team to spend time with family and actually take vacation. I know I dogged on compensation, but healthy and competitive compensation should ABSOLUTELY be a part of that sales pitch. 

Can you ask yourself this question… what is the person I’m looking for… looking for? I know that feels weird to say. But if you draw up your ideal employee, what kind of business do they want to work for? 

And are we working hard to build our business into that type of place? That the people we’re looking for would come… and ACTUALLY stay?

Finding the right people doesn’t just happen by accident, but only when we look internally first, knowing that the means by which we win our employees over will be the same reasons they choose to stay for the long haul. 

So be intentional about those things. Know who you are and why you’re that way! And watch quality employees choose to stay with you for years and years… even in the midst of opportunity elsewhere. We’ve seen it time and again as business owners, we work with lead with Vision and intentionality. 

That’s a powerful team that anyone would want to be a part of!