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Employee Satisfaction is Key to Company Success

By Robin Thompson, MS/TRS

"If I take care of my people, they will take care of the customer," says Maxine Turner owner of the Salt Lake City based catering service, Cuisine Unlimited. Truer words have never been spoken. Yet every day we hear about organizations focusing on getting new business while ignoring the needs of their own staff.

As a panel of three successful Salt Lake City business women shared their successful approaches to owning a thriving business at a recent National Association of Women Business Owners meeting, one common theme emerged - many of their victories were achieved by creating a committed team.

How they created that team was exemplified by Carmelle Jensen owner of CCG Office Furniture, a $13 million business, who said, "Above all, give the employees respect and value them by sharing information with them. You need to know where you are going and then not only share the dream with the employees but sell the dream."

Each panel member said that the leader must know what the dream is. Second they must buy into that dream themselves. If these two tenets are in place then and only then can leaders sell the dream to others.

J.R. Green owner of Mountain States Mortgage, who in 1994 was the number one Jenny Mae insurer in the nation for privately held companies and is consistently ranked as the number one woman owned business for gross sales in Utah, said to create a high achieving team you need to know what motivates the employees. She says that you can learn where people want to go and how long they plan to stay with the company through one annual goal exercise. "Ask them to create a six month, one year, and five year goal plan." This information will give company leaders people's aspirations. It can also be a wake up call that some employees have not bought into the dream which creates an opportunity for the organization's leaders.

People have varying motivations for actions that they take. Employees' motivation range from basic pay and benefits to higher levels of socialization, challenge or escape. To help clarify employees primary motivation, consider the following:

1. Survivalists need the money to survive. Tip to employers: their motivation is increased income.

2. Seekers want the money to be able to achieve a higher standard of living. Financially they could survive without the money that their job brings. These people tend to seek jobs that pay well, but also one that creates personal satisfaction. Tip: Money may motivate them today, but tomorrow they will be looking for a bigger challenge which may mean losing them to a competitor.

3. Contributors do not need the money. They work for the satisfaction of contributing to the greater good. They would probably continue working even if the company could no longer pay them. Their primary motivation is to make a difference.

4. "Fun"datmentalists work because it is fun. Green is a firm believer in making work fun. Ask any of her long time employees - some who have been working with her from the time she started the business 17 years ago. One employee said, "Work is fun." They truly enjoy what they do. This employee may be seen skipping around the office and helping others see the positive side of work. They are motivated by knowing they are a cog in the fun wheel.

Successful business people recognize the varying degrees of motivation. They have learned to help people reach the upper tier of "fun"damentalist. Jensen, who has won numerous business awards including the prestigious Haworth President's Circle Award for Quality, said that she develops a strong reputation and connection with employees which helps her recruit the best and brightest. And in turn they tell others about the great organization that they work for. It is good advertising to have happy, committed employees who know they are a valued team member.

These three successful women know and put into action the premise that you want good customers, but you need good employees. Without good employees you may not have any customers. Discover what motivates your employees and then find a way to give it to them.

Source: http://www.robinthompson.com/employeesatisfaction.htm