My very best boss asked me a powerful question when I joined her company: “What can I do to help you be successful?” At first, I was taken aback that this entrepreneurial business owner was offering to help me do my job, but then she simply stated, “Your success is my success!”
That conversation happened nearly 20 years ago. Since then, I’ve come to realize the value of that philosophy. When you invest in people, there is a definitive ROI—a return on individual—that translates to the bottom line. Investment in people is inextricably linked to performance.
Because my manager encouraged me to develop myself further, I worked harder to achieve results. It’s clear: invest in your people, and they will invest in you. There are many ways to invest in and empower employees – recognition strategies, training programs, coaching and mentoring are all ways to show individuals you value them.
Formal education and on-the-job training can be enhanced with specialized programs including sales training, communications workshops, client-relationship-management techniques and training for working in a multicultural or multi-generational environment. Nonprofit clients often opt for donor-engagement training and board sessions on fundraising and community relations. These are great opportunities to invest in training so that your organization can thrive and you can achieve your full potential.
As the economy grows stronger and the job market becomes more welcoming, employees will have more choices. Investing in their development is a proven way to increase retention. If you want high performance from individuals, lift them up—don’t beat them down. Light a fire in them, not under them.
How do you show your employees they are valued? How do you coach and develop new leaders? We welcome the opportunity to explore possibilities for unleashing your employees full potential. Let’s keep the conversation going.
