Landscape Architect Articles

Investing in Human Capital04-01-14 | News

Investing in Human Capital
Whether you plan to add crewmembers this summer or sometime down the road, hiring the right individuals and effectively managing them is critical to the success of your business. Here is some advice from employee relationship experts on hiring and keeping workers.

First Impressions
Kim Seeling Smith, an international human resources professional, lists Correct Hiring as one of her "5 C's to Recruit, Engage and Retain Staff." Her advice to managers includes:

Experience is far less important than agility and the ability to learn and adapt.

Ask interview questions that have to be answered with past examples of dealing with real-world scenarios.

Hire for both culture fit and competencies.

www.igniteglobal.com

Listen Up
Barry Banther, the CEO of Banther Consulting, a company that advises Fortune 100 firms, recommends that bosses should encourage feedback from employees because "trust is built upon a transparency that reflects a freedom to speak and to be heard." He lists three skills that are essential to getting consistent and candid feedback:

Stop, drop, and listen. When an associate is talking with you, don't be multitasking. Stop whatever you are doing and listen.
Suspend judgment. Learn to hold back on your first response and make no judgment until you have exhausted your conversation with this associate.
Search deeper. Ask questions to get more detail about what the person is trying to convey.

www.barrybanther.com

Easing Tensions
To successfully navigate conflict in the workplace, Tom????(R)?s Garza, a conflict resolution specialist, says managers must be able to confront team members in a positive, productive manner. His tips include: