1. Simple Solutions to Common
People Problems

2. Small-business owners have always
felt at a disadvantage over larger
enterprises in personnel matters.
Lacking formal HR departments,
entrepreneurs often feel painfully alone in dealing
with employee issues. But there are ways to
circumvent staff problems.

3. One of today’s hottest trends removes unnecessary
rules. Start by eliminating any
workplace requirements that
make it hard to get the job done.
Then get rid of any rules that
don’t help achieve the company’s
objectives. Find out about the
frustrating red tape and barriers
by asking your employees. Who
better to identify the processes that inhibit creativity
and productivity than the people who deal with them
daily?

4. Here’s one: Constantly shifting priorities
undermines employee performance.
Employees are frustrated
and demoralized when
they learn that they’ve
put a lot of time and effort
into a project that has suddenly
been deemed unnecessary.
Dispirited employees are not
going to deliver optimal value.
Regularly communicating the status of an important
project is a great habit to get into.

5. Another hot issue involves staff
compensation. Discard salary
benchmarks when you have
star employees. Regardless of
what your competition is paying for a similar
job, if you have a star performer, recognize the
value that employee brings to your company.
Replacing your best talent is expensive and
often impossible.

6. Many small businesses are using these latest
approaches to people management and
abandoning outdated rules, poor communication
channels and illogical compensation policies. The
result: They exchange potential morale problems
and loss of productivity for satisfied employees and
an organization that works smoothly.

7. Randy Bett
www.BetterGroupRealEstate.ca