Laura, my wife, and I were impressed with an employee of a small restaurant we had dinner at a couple weeks ago. She brought crayons and crackers for the kids, refilled drinks before we needed, and made us feel like she enjoyed being our server. I am a true believer that a great employee often represents the culture of a company, and that the goal of a small business should be to hire and retain only excellent employees. A highly competent and enthusiastic employee is at least two and sometimes even three times as valuable as a person of average skills and poor attitude.
So how do you find employees who add value to your small business? I agree with Careerbuilder.com that “hiring the best is not about finding the perfectly skilled worker; If you are looking for the best, do not hire someone with strong skills and weak character. It is better to hire someone with outstanding character who is capable of being trained. Focus on character as much as skill.”
Creating a stable and happy workforce is essential. Employees must believe they are being fairly treated and that your business is worthy of respect. The small business owner must seek employees that believe their service or product provides value to their customers. Employees and contractors who like their work will represent you well both on and off the job. And customers will more likely be loyal to an upbeat business — and are more likely to recommend it to their friends.
Having employees who know themselves and are passionate about what your business represents are the best employees.
