The Stakeholders that make the DIFFERENCE in Business. Must read for all Entrepreneurs!

I have always wondered why so many companies in America, Europe grow and outlive their owner or founder. I have however discovered that this is as a result of the fact that they thought about solutions, serving and adding values. I am writing as an employee in a limited company (one man business). A company by one man, acting as the human resource personnel, managing director and the only decision maker- we call them entrepreneurs. Our entrepreneurs employ the most qualified and later frustrate them to leave while the business still remains on the same level. The questions that come to mind are:  “What is wrong?” “Why is the business not moving forward or growing and why are my clients leaving?” “Why is our turnover going down?” Unfortunately, many of these employers only think about money! Money!! Money!!! And not the values they are offering or the employees working things out for them.

Just in a year I worked in two limited companies and I was fired in both companies, not because I was not doing well but they just could not pay me anymore. The business was going down and the reasons were not far-fetched - Employer-Employee engagement.  “Clients do not come first, Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients”- Richard Branson.

Many of our ‘one man’ businesses lack the focus on employee engagement and that is why they have so many people passing through the company and leaving it the way they met it. The owner of the business focuses only on the income and not on value and sustainability. It should be noted and employers should be aware that every employee wants to be treated with respect and regard. If you can’t respect your employees, how do you expect them to respect your clients? The employees are the queen; the clients are the king and the owner is the servant. The way in which the servant treats the queen determines how the queen will treat the king and if the king is not treated well, the king kills or bans the servant. This in essence is the way things are/work in the business world.

Every employee wants to be paid well and treated well. In Rob Yeung’s book “The Rules of Entrepreneurship” he mentioned that paying well is not just about money, it is paying with challenge and responsibility, courtesy and respect. It is about figuring out the right buttons for each of your employee and pushing them until they can’t imagine working elsewhere. Employers need to focus on the nature of the work, the fun and the opportunity. There are many opportunities that Employers should make available to employees: Give your employees the chance to make decisions and influence the direction of the business; Offer trainings and development opportunities; Decide to close the office one Friday afternoon (could be once a month or once in four months) to celebrate a team achievement; Agree to flexible hours, casual wears etc. Every Thursday in Google Inc., is a day for each employee’s personal projects. Every employee is allowed to work on any personal project he or she wants to work on using company tools. They have a wonderful working environment. These are things which will make an employee give his or her all to the business which in turn is able to satisfy the clients.

Employees stay when they are:

Paid well | Mentored | Challenged | Promoted | Involved | Appreciated | Valued | Empowered | Trusted | given a chance to be free | Understood | Not ‘overused’.

Remember that as an Employer, you own this business. You are the boss! You do not have to adopt any business practice simply because other Employers engage in such practices. . For example: Daystar Christian Centre has a system in place where all pastors work throughout the week except for Mondays. Monday is their free day, like their own weekend and they also go on vacations in due time. Think about your own special ways to make your work environment interesting, stimulating, and worthwhile. Please make use of everything and anything you can think of to keep good people working for you because the moment your employees are comfortable and happy, it automatically extends to your clients.