Now that we are living in the “Social Age”, it is vital for employers to become more strategic, creative and innovative when it comes to recruiting and engaging staff members. Kim Seeling Smith on Quirks explains the 5 Cs that will allow your company to maximize employment efficiency and effectiveness, retain your staff and ensure that your employees are fully-engaged on a daily basis.

Correct Hiring: It can be difficult to find an employee that meets all of your specific needs when it comes to past experience. What is truly important for hiring new employees is to check for their ability to adapt and learn what you need them to know. However, it is important that while you are interviewing the candidate, they respond with real-life experiences rather than what they “would do” in that situation. This will show you whether or not they have ever dealt with any real-world situations.

Classify & Manage Appropriately: Once your team starts working together, you may run into some issues when it comes to team dynamics or changing personal circumstances. Both of these can affect individual behavior and performance- therefore affecting your company. It is important to make sure that you do not spend too much time with specific employees, and that you evenly train, motivate and manage them.

Compensate Fairly: Smith states that studies have shown that offering rewards to your employees can narrow focus, innovation, creativity, strategic thinking and problem-solving. In other words, just because you are paying an employee a higher wage does not mean that they are going to give you higher productivity. While it is important to make sure that employees feel they are receiving the right amount of pay, it is also important to set the salary benchmark at or a little above market rate for individual functions.

Currencies of Choice: Currencies of choice is another way to phrase “internal motivators“. Once you are sure that your employees feel they are being paid a fair amount, it is at that time where you should look deeply into what motivates your employees so that they will perform at their best level. In order for your staff to feel motivated, they must trust and respect the company, feel appreciated, and have a career path that allows them to grow and further themselves in the future.

Communicate with FOCUS: “Focus” describes the best practices in leadership communication. “Focus” stands for:

• Feedback: Make sure that your team is always aware of company information, initiatives and new hires. Make sure to form a solid relationship with your employees so they feel they are able to come to you with questions, concerns or comments about the company.
• Objectives: Structure specific job objectives for your staff. This will give them something to reach and strive for on a daily basis.
• Career Development: If your employees do not have room to grow, better themselves, and develop, they will most likely choose to seek a new position elsewhere. Make sure your employees are able to develop throughout their career with you.
• Underlying Motivators: These are what your staff needs to motivate them to go the extra step. Figure out how they best respond to motivational techniques.
• Strengths: Notice each individual’s strengths, that is, what makes them unique and good at what they do. If you praise your employees, they will feel appreciated and important, and therefore perform better.

Although taking the 5 Cs into account for your company may seem like a lot to handle at first, it will overall improve the way your company runs as a whole. With a happier and more productive staff, your business will thrive.

Written by

nedmstaff