#JTInTheRaw 51: How To Have A Line Of People Wanting To Work For You!

Let me start today’s show with a question: how much time, energy and resources do you spend marketing your business . . . to potential employees?

We are in a tight labour market where most employees interview you to see if you will be blessed to have them work for you.

More to come today on positioning your business as an employer of a choice.

Welcome to show 51 of #JTInTheRaw where I chew the thin on business and today is about having the best people working for you.

First up are my shout outs …

Thanks to Simon & Jarad for coming on board this week as new coaching clients.  This means I have 5 spots left for coaching clients.  If you would like me to see my coaching packages click here.

Thanks to Sean and Liz for coming on board as new clients as we work them to build their marketing plan for the next 12 months.  If you would like information on how we can help, email me.

Welcome to new Active Management Silver Members this week: Tracey, Rob, Joe.  Great to have you join the community.

And thanks to the amazing feedback we have received on the new Member Hub.  Here is one example from Sylvia: “I didn’t use the Member Hub enough in the past as it was too difficult to navigate.  This new one is super easy. I’ll definitely be spending more time to see what’s available.” 

So what has inspired today’s show?

I just finished an Industry Leaders Roundtable, where one question that was asked was “we are having a lot of  difficulties finding suitable candidates. Are they out there? Are we just not attracting them? Salary? Reputation? Strategies?”

My observations of business are these: If I score your time, energy and resources for driving leads or prospects to be customers as 9 out of 10; generally I would score your time, energy and resources for driving leads or prospects to be staff members as 2 or 3 out of 10.

Which is really quite paradoxical as in most businesses great people will lead to enquiries to become a client of yours.

Let me ask you: why would someone want to work with you?

Many of us develop an ‘elevator pitch’ on why someone should be a client or customer or simply buy form us.  But do we have an elevator pitch for why someone should work for us.

And most importantly, is this pitch full of uniqueness?

I believe your elevator pitch needs to be short and punchy, to pique the interest of the candidate.  This will then give you an opportunity to cover off in more detail on why someone would work for you.

And then can you prove your pitch?

You do that by having testimonials from your staff.  Just as you would collect reasons why your clients are your clients, you use the same formula for why your staff are your staff.

Marketing your business for a place to work is just the same!

If I were looking for a job, here is a checklist in order of what I would seek:

1. Why is this business in business, so I can see if this matches my personal why;
2. Clear core values of the business, so I can assess if they match my values;
3. Is there crystal clear direction for the business – ie goals for the business.  And just as importantly, have they historically lurched between goals and strategies haphazardly or stayed on course;
4. Is there opportunity for professional development to make me better at my role, a better team member and a better person;
5. Will I get opportunities to speak with and learn from people in a senior role;
6. Do we operate as a Team or in silos;
7. Once my KPI’s are set are they really set;
8. Can I speak with any current employees I want to see what they say about working for the company; and
9. Is the salary competitive and enough for me to live my life without any undue pressure?

And while not on my checklist, I want to know your company’s position in the industry.  What I mean are you the BEST personal training business or gym in the suburb, city, state or country?

Are you or your business positioned as a leader in the industry, so that when I meet others in the industry and I say I work for your business they say “WOW! You are so lucky!”

For many employees it is a status thing for them amongst their peers to say who they work for – provided that business has an awesome reputation.

When I was starting off in the fitness industry, if you were an aerobic instructor the #1 place to teach aerobics was at Healthlands with Richard Chew.  That’s where all the aerobic champions worked.  You’d do anything to get a job there.

Do you have that same reputation?  GYST and started positioning yourself.

If you quickly analyse my suggestions, you’ll see it is JUST like marketing your business for prospects!  But for whatever reason we don’t spend the same time, energy or resources.

Start building yourself as a quality employer so you have a line of people wanting to work for you.

Let me share my 9-point checklist again plus the extra points I suggested. As I do, do a quick self-evaluation to determine if this is something you can improve.  In fact, pop the corresponding number in the comments below, if you think it is an area you can improve – psst you can have multiple numbers in the comments that’s ok!

1. Do you have an elevator pitch on why people should work for you?
2. Do you have testimonials from current and past staff?  Can the applicant speak with any current employees they want to see what they say about working for the company?
3. Do you have a clear why you are in business; Are the core values of the business clear and publicized so all applicants can see them? Is there crystal clear direction for the business – ie goals for the business.  And do you have a history that you do not lurch between goals and strategies haphazardly and you stay on course;
4. Is there opportunity for professional development to make applicants better at their role, a better team member and a better person;
5. Will they get opportunities to speak with and learn from people in a senior role;
6. Do you operate as a Team or in silos;
7. Once the KPI’s are set are they really set;
8. Is the salary competitive and enough for them to live their life without any undue pressure.
9. Is your company positioned as the leader in the industry.

Let’s see what people say . . . want them again quickly?

Ok remember pop in the comments which of these can you work on . . .

1. Do you have an elevator pitch on why people should work for you?
2. Do you have testimonials from current and past staff?  Can the applicant speak with any current employees they want to see what they say about working for the company?
3. Do you have a clear why you are in business; Are the core values of the business clear and publicized so all applicants can see them? Is there crystal clear direction for the business – ie goals for the business.  And do you have a history that you do not lurch between goals and strategies haphazardly and you stay on course;
4. Is there opportunity for professional development to make applicants better at their role, a better team member and a better person;
5. Will they get opportunities to speak with and learn from people in a senior role;
6. Do you operate as a Team or in silos;
7. Once the KPI’s are set are they really set;
8. Is the salary competitive and enough for them to live their life without any undue pressure.
9. Is your company positioned as the leader in the industry.

By no means are these the only benefits for being an employer of choice but I would suggest for many people looking for a job most of these 11 are relevant, perhaps a different order but relevant.

My Big Hairy Audacious Goal for each of you watching, is that within 6 months you have a line of people wanting to work for you.  You never have to advertise for staff again, people are knocking down your door to work for you because of your reputation.

If you agree with that BHAG, hit like! Go . . .

Now if you know anyone who would benefit from hearing this checklist on being an employer of choice please tag them in the comments below by popping their name in.

Thank you.

Now back in show 49, which was 2 weeks ago I talked about the importance of getting out of your physical business to work on your business.  If you missed show 49, click here.

I explained you simply don’t have the band width to slip 30 minutes of quality strategic thinking between clients or putting out fires in your business.

I set you a challenge: for the next 90 days commit to 6 half days – ie every 2 weeks half a day to work on the strategy of your business.

This show was 2 weeks ago, so have you had your first offsite meeting? Have you? Have you?  Tell me I want to know!!!

If you have AWESOME!

If not . . . Diarise TODAY 4 hours every 2 weeks for 3 months to work purely on the business! Do it!  Accept the challenge.

Remember, if you missed show 49 click here.

I hope you got value from the show today.  As always I am very grateful to anyone who shares the show . . . thank you.  I am also excited to hear from those who action things I share, so don’t be afraid to drop me an email or FB me and tell me what you have done.

Thanks for tuning into JTInTheRaw show 51 and let me leave you with quote of the week which is a reminder of my goal for you:

Your BHAG: within 6 months you have a line of people wanting to work for you.

See you next week . . . same time!!!

Do you want to work one on one with JT?

Check out all previous shows here: http://www.activemgmt.com.au/category/jt-in-the-raw/