Adding Value To Your Organization
 By
Rick Dacri, Dacri & Associates
Many managers have distinguished themselves by tightly managing their
operations, focusing heavily on building in operational efficiencies,
while always maintaining a close watch on their budgets. Often they
will do whatever it takes to keep costs down while maintaining good
service to their customers. And isn’t that what they are hired to do?
While cutting costs and focusing on the bottom line is important, it
may not be the best way to create long-term value for your
organization. Innovation and improved performance don’t happen by
accident. It requires investment and managers who are always focused on
reinvesting in their organization.
Good managers identify problems and then solve them. If there is a
defect, they fix it. If there is a deviation, they right it. While this
is essential, it merely maintains the status quo and frankly, in an
ever-changing environment, those who stand still, fall behind.
Great leaders are always looking around the corner, identifying
emerging trends and potential opportunities, and then are seeking ways
to taken advantage of these for the betterment of the business. They
are raising the bar—driving the performance of their organization and
their people to the next level.
Leaders zero in on activities that create real value for the
organization by investing in those things that add value—whether it’s
people, systems or equipment. While systems and equipment are
important, we must first focus on people. Without people, we have no
operations. Yet recently, I spoke with a manager who strongly believed
her job was to vigilantly search for ways to cut costs—a task for which
she was very adept. Unfortunately, her good work has resulted in an
organization that struggles to recruit and retain people, and the
employees she has are unprepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
So where should you make your investments. Here are four
areas:
| 1. |
Develop your talent through continuous
training and development. Job specific training and interpersonal
skills training are essential in a world experiencing rapid changes
that require people to work in a collaborative team environment. |
| 2. |
Pay and treat your people well. If you want
the best and the brightest, you have to treat them as such. |
| 3. |
Invest in performance management systems.
Employees must be focused on the things that are important to the
business. |
| 4. |
Invest in recruitment initiatives. Placing
ads simply does not work. Creative, “outside the box” approaches must
be developed. |
By investing in your people, you will get better
performance and increased employee capability. Trained employees
develop better insights and make smarter decisions. And finally, the
quantity and quality of your recruits will improve resulting in
employees who can make an immediate contribution.
The best managers are taking control of their operations. They are
focusing on opportunities to create real value by investing in their
people.
Rick
Dacri is a human resource consultant, featured speaker at regional and
national conferences, and author of the book “Uncomplicating
Management: Focus On Your Stars & Your Company Will Soar.”
Since 1995 his firm, Dacri & Associates has helped
organizations improve individual and organizational performance. Rick
connects with people in a positive and challenging way to offer
practical solutions. He can be reached at 207-967-0837,
or via email at rick@dacri.com
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