by Kevin Lawrence

This sure is a hot topic these days and for good reason . . . good people are harder to find in most markets.

The thing that constantly amazes me is that most companies take their "A" players for granted. Considering all of the time, money, training, and other energy that goes into finding and grooming top talent, many organizations treat these people like they grow on trees.

There are many reasons that companies do not treat their key people well, but the key is that the employment market is dictating that this will change.

The simplest and most powerful way to ensure that your most valuable team members (both new and existing hires) are and remain happy as well as loyal, is to regularly get feedback from them. Ask them what they like about their job, what they don't like or are frustrated with, about opportunities to increase their satisfaction and/or performance...the list goes on.

In simple terms, ask them the same kinds of questions you would ask a top client, your spouse, or a good friend if you truly wanted to make the relationship the best it could be . . .

Yes I know, there are a million excuses (mostly based on fears) not to ask these questions. But, if you don't know the things that will make "A" players thrive, they end up thriving somewhere else. Better to hear some tough feedback and be able to do something about it rather than pay the price with unsatisfied and unproductive (or absent) team members.

It seems silly and almost irresponsible to me not to ask. Those that don't ask often tell me that it does not matter because all their people will say is that they want more money...not true at all.

And, even beyond ensuring that your "A" players will thrive (which leads to increased performance from them), you will end up with many ideas that will improve your company overall.

This is an absolute win-win-win strategy; you get information about how to help your "A" players thrive and enjoy their position more, you get financial feedback to run the company better, and you will likely create more value for your customers.

Kevin Lawrence, Business Coach & Speaker http://www.CoachKevin.com
Copyright 2005-2006, SGI Synergy Group Inc. & Kevin Lawrence

What are you going to do to ensure you know where your key team members stand?

1. List 3 actions you are going to take to better understand how you can upgrade the working environment in your business.

2. Without asking, what are 2 things you can do to increase staff satisfaction?

3. Identify 2 people you can appreciate/recognize today for their efforts.

Make it a great week and remember, some of the main things people want from their work is to have a sense of accomplishment, contribution, belonging and being appreciated. Money comes after most of these.

July 4, 2006
Happy 4th of July!

Next week we celebrate the 4th of July in the United States. The Coaching Tip of the Week will be on vacation. Enjoy your holiday with family and friends honoring all that we have. We'll be back on July 14th with more new information.

Coach Andrea's Coaching Tip of the Week is brought to you by Andrea Novakowski, Master Certified Coach who provides Business and Personal Coaching to Executives, Small Business Owners, Professionals and Managers. Andrea is a professional coach who partners with people to set goals and create momentum to produce effective results in their business and/or personal lives.

Andrea is available for individual coaching. If you are serious about reaching your goals and living with greater fulfillment and satisfaction, consider using a coach. To schedule a COMPLIMENTARY initial consultation, send an e-mail to Andrea at
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