Author: DD Haines

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Start with WHY: the key to building your employer brand

Our guest writer this month is Rachel Kennedy, owner of Southern Lighthouse, an employer branding content agency.

 

“We’re desperate”

My heart broke when I read the hand-written sign that said, “We’re Desperate” outside of my favorite fried chicken restaurant in Dallas. 

Reading the hand-written chalk sign broke my heart, thinking of the hiring struggles happening in so many of our businesses right now. 

We are certainly living in a candidate’s market. That means communicating in the way that candidates want to be communicated with. Not out of desperation, but instead out of a place that offers value.

Are you struggling to hire? Do a quick search on Indeed.com for one of your open roles. Type in “Office Manager” and “Dallas, Texas” and see how many job opportunities pop up. The results likely run in the hundreds. This means that your ideal candidate has hundreds of opportunities to choose from, so it is critical to stand out in a positive way.

But how? 

Employer branding starts with your Employee Value Proposition, or EVP for short. This is the compelling answer to the question: “Why should I work here instead of somewhere else? What’s in it for me?” Potential employees want to know why they should work for you, when they could work in a comparable role at 389 other companies. 

The first step in sharing your EVP is writing and speaking with candidate-centric language. I’ll modify President John F. Kennedy’s famous quote here: “Ask not what your candidate can do for you – share what you can do for your candidate.”

Practically, this means erasing “Apply Now” and “We’re Hiring”, replacing it with what you can offer.

I recently worked with the National Breast Cancer Foundation as they were struggling to fill an executive-level role. Their careers page and job description listed the experience and degree requirements (just like the other 389 job openings on Indeed), but it failed to mention anything about their life-saving mission!

 

After we worked together, we rewrote their careers page and the first paragraph of the job description to include their WHY: to help and inspire hope in those affected by breast cancer through education, early detection and support services. It became such a powerful, stand-out message! (And they have a high-level quality applicant interviewing now!)

Consider your current job postings: do they speak with candidate-centric language? (Here is what we offer you!) Do you list your benefits? Do you describe your mission?

 

Next time I return to my beloved fried chicken restaurant (I pray that it is still open!) I would offer this advice: erase the company-centric, anguished language of “Apply Now! We’re Hiring! We’re Desperate!” and instead use candidate-centric, WHY language. “We offer a positive, fun work environment, free meals during shifts, free parking, flexible hours, and free smells.” My fingers are crossed that they enumerate their benefits they offer, and outline their mission to get more amazing team members to join, so I can dig into my fried chicken this weekend.

 

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As a lover of company culture, Rachel Kennedy believes the most powerful lighthouses shine from within.  After 13 years of leading recruitment at The Beck Group and The Container Store, Rachel founded Southern Lighthouse, an employer branding content agency that helps recruiters, marketers and leaders at growing firms strategically attract the right people to their unique cultures through better candidate messaging & content.

Rachel graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology from Austin College, and holds a Masters in Sustainability from Southern Methodist University. Rachel is a mom of two wild boys, cookie lover, wife, and tea aficionado who lives in Dallas, Texas.  Connect with Rachel at Rachel@SouthernLighthouse.com.

 

DD Haines
My employee’s mental health is important to me – how can I help?

Employee Mental Health

Do you own a small business?

How well do you know your employees? Can you tell when they’re not feeling 100% mentally or physically?

As much as you wish it weren’t the case – it’s part of your job to know what kind of shape your employees are in. It’s not so hard to tell if they aren’t well physically, but mentally? Even working side by side on a daily basis, you may not be able to pick up on mental distress, especially if the employee is determined to hide it. There are signs, though, and there are steps to take to make things better.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans article (https://blog.ifebp.org/signs-employee-mental-health) lists the following symptoms that can be observed at work:

  • Increased emotionality, such as tears from someone who normally does not tend to cry
  • Social withdrawal or conflict with others
  • Increased missed appointments
  • Appears tired or slow
  • Looks confused at times and has a hard time making decisions
  • Making more mistakes or lagging behind
  • Increased conversations about problems
  • Signs of alcohol or drug abuse

What can you, as the owner/boss, do to help when you do observe signs of mental distress?    #1 – don’t diagnose and don’t judge.  In the US, one in 5 of us meets the criteria for having a mental health condition.

In another article from the IFofEBP blogs (https://blog.ifebp.org/supervisors-support-employees-mental-health/) Tramaine ElAmin says “In terms of ongoing workplace strategies, providing a constant flow communication of information and addressing your workforce’s expressed concerns is recommended. Let your colleagues know that the work they are doing is of high value. As you recognize that everyone processes stress differently, let them know that it’s okay not to be okay and provide a safe environment for them to reach out. Avoid telling employees what they should do and instead ask what they need.”  ElAmin also offers several tips on keeping a professional distance that can help you bridge the relationship between owner/boss and employee.

As the owner or the boss (or both!) you are close to your employees, but there needs to be a gap in diagnosing and treating your employee’s mental health issues. What do they need that you can provide and/or are required by law to provide? How will your other employees be impacted? The mental health of your employees is as important as their physical health and as a small business owner, it is in your best interest to monitor both.

 

DD Haines
Concerned About Your Mental Health?

Do you feel you have a lot on your plate and that you cannot keep your head above water? Do you find that balancing your family’s needs, your personal needs and your employer’s needs can be a bit overwhelming? Sometimes we go to work because we love what we do and enjoy using our skills to help our company grow. Sometimes we go to work because it gives us a break from the stresses at home. And, sometimes we go to work and struggle to keep it all together. The demands of our employer, our peers and customers can be pretty intense and if we are struggling with boundaries and self care we can become overwhelmed and frustrated and this could lead to burn out.

Some strategies to help with this are:

Take a lap around the building for a brief 5 minute walk.

Take a deep breath in, hold it and slowly let it out. Breathe out as if you are blowing the fluffy seeds of a dandelion. Do this several times.

Take a break and use that time to listen to your favorite song

Make a list of 10 things you are grateful for today

Take five minutes to focus on things you can touch, things you can see and things hear

Irene Little, PsyD., MS, MA, LMFT-S, LCDC, ICADC, ADCIII, MAC, CCC-SLP

CEO

Access Counseling Group,

4280 Main Street, Ste. 300

Frisco, Texas 75033

972-905-6574 Tel

www.accesscounselinggroup.com

 

 

DD Haines
Thinking about “Quiet Quitting?

Exactly what is “Quiet Quitting?”

The current definition from Wikipedia says, “Quiet quitting is an informal term for the practice of reducing the amount of effort one devotes to one’s job, such as by stopping the completion of any tasks not explicitly stated in the job description. The term implies that this is done secretly or without notifying one’s boss or manager.”

Please note that a couple of assumptions in this definition make it a little dangerous.

The first assumption is that “the task is not explicitly stated in the job description.”  Most job descriptions are worded vaguely enough that many tasks can be implied rather than stated.  Most are tasks that would be natural follow-ups to an already completed task, such as a Thank You note to a vendor who went above and beyond to get supplies sent.  These follow-ups can’t all be listed in a job description without it becoming a book rather than a document!

The second assumption is “done secretly or without notifying one’s boss or manager.” Unless you work in a sealed vault with no other employees and your manager is deaf and blind – someone will notice.

In a pre-Covid office environment, this sort of “quiet quitting” would be noticed fairly quickly – first by the co-workers and then by the supervisors.  Our current hybrid (part-time office, part-time work from home) might take a little longer.

Most often, the “quiet quitter” has decided that their work is not being compensated as it should be, so they only give what they think they’re getting paid for.  That’s a sad case and most often results in the quitter leaving the organization – sometimes involuntarily. An alert manager can often interrupt this behavior by offering training, moving to a different department, or helping in overcoming other challenges in a way the employee sees as profitable for them.

We have all seen another version of the “quiet quitter,” and there is at least one in every office.  I call this person the “I never got started to begin with.” This person went to work the first day with no intention of setting the world on fire.  Their entire purpose is to get a paycheck with the least effort required.  In his article “I tried Quiet Quitting before it was cool…” (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/i-tried-quiet-quitting-before-it-was-cool-and-regretted-it-ever-since-11661607277) George Passy compares himself with George Costanza from Seinfeld.  Costanza’s entire focus was on NOT working and still getting a paycheck. Can you imagine how hard the other employees had to work to carry old George and do their own work?

How do you deal with a “quiet quitter” or a “loud quitter” (as described here: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/398306/quiet-quitting-real.aspx) without just leaving your current job?

You don’t. Recognizing the symptoms is important, but you are not the cure.  The company you work for needs to change its culture.  A more proactive training program for anyone who wants to participate, incentives for above and beyond performance, and just plain appreciation for a job well done are important to every employee and can make a big difference to the “quiet quitter.”

If you are a “quiet quitter,” you are in the wrong workplace.  You can continue your subliminal protest or do something about your situation.  Start by doing some internal searching.  What, specifically, got you to where you are?  Talk to your manager and try to find a solution.  If that isn’t possible, it is time to start looking for a company that better reflects your definition of a good place to work, where you can put your best foot forward without feeling as though you are being underpaid and overworked.

 

DD Haines
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Small Business by Sam Marcum (sam@bizbenefitguide.com)

Mistakes are inevitable in business, especially if you’re new to entrepreneurship. While it’s completely okay to make mistakes and learn from them, taking preventive measures is even better. Learn from the setbacks of all the business owners who came before you! Small business owners tend to make many of the same mistakes, from neglecting their legal responsibilities to overlooking the importance of employee onboarding. Here are 5 common mistakes to avoid as you get your business off the ground.

Think your business is too small to worry about HR? Think again! Human resource management benefits small businesses in several ways. Fit Small Business explains that good HR practices (https://fitsmallbusiness.com/why-is-human-resources-important/) will help you secure top talent, improve employee retention, minimize miscommunication, boost productivity, and avoid compliance issues. You don’t need an internal HR team to enjoy these benefits. If you don’t have the time or resources to handle HR internally, consider outsourcing your HR needs to EBR HR Experts. Our HR consulting experts can help your small business establish strong HR programs, practices, and policies.

Avoiding Traditional Marketing Strategies

Today, many business owners focus all of their marketing efforts on digital strategies. Although digital marketing has incredible value to offer businesses of any size, traditional marketing methods are far from dead. Traditional advertising is still fantastic for raising brand awareness (https://wmkagency.com/blog/traditional-advertising-4-reasons-its-not-dead). Plus, offline advertisements tend to work great for local businesses and companies targeting older demographics.

Business cards are one form of traditional offline advertising that any entrepreneur can use to their advantage. They’re affordable, easy to distribute, great for events, and more visible than an email. Plus, business cards are easy to design when you use pre-made templates. You can find all kinds of tools that let you create business cards online even if you have zero design skills.

Doing Everything Yourself

As a small business owner, it’s normal to wear many hats. But you don’t have to do everything on your own. Often, you’ll get a better return on your investment by outsourcing extra work to freelancers or delegating tasks to employees. Delegate (https://ebrhrexperts.com/task-delegation-for-small-business-owners) time-consuming tasks or projects that require specific skill sets. For example, you can delegate data entry, employee recruitment, HR management, and customer service!

Classifying Employees Incorrectly

Do you know the penalties for misclassifying your employees? Whether or not it’s intentional (https://www.mbopartners.com/blog/misclassification-compliance/employee-misclassification-penalties/) misclassifying employees as independent contractors can put you at risk of paying back taxes and penalties in the future. Misclassifying employees could put you in violation of various wage, tax, and employment laws. Be proactive about protecting your company from worker misclassification with a defined plan in place for managing independent freelancers.

Not Establishing an Employee Onboarding Plan

Establishing a solid onboarding system is important whether you’re hiring employees or contractors. Without proper onboarding procedures (https://www.apollotechnical.com/why-onboarding-is-important) your business may experience poor employee engagement, increased turnover, and lost productivity. An onboarding plan will ensure your new hires receive the training, information, and resources they need to thrive in their new position. It should also help your new employees understand your company culture and how it aligns with their personal values. Create an employee onboarding program designed to support your new employees for at least their first 90 days at your company.

Business owners make all kinds of mistakes. Often, mistakes create valuable learning opportunities that can help you become a better entrepreneur. While you shouldn’t fear mistakes, you can take steps to avoid disastrous and costly consequences. Learn from other business owners so you can avoid setbacks as you grow your new business.

Could you use some HR advice? EBR HR Experts (EBRHRExperts.com)supports small businesses with a variety of HR services, including management training, employee handbooks, and HR policies. Contact us today! 972-855-8009

DD Haines
5 Benefits of Career Coaching; How coaching can improve your job search

 

Have you considered a career coach for your job search but you aren’t sure if it is worth the money? Job searching shouldn’t cost you money after all! A career coach is much like a real estate agent. They aren’t necessary to get the job done, but they sure can make the process easier. A good career coach isn’t an expense, it is an investment in your future.

1. You don’t know what you don’t know.

A good career coach will help you navigate all the advice out there – both good and bad. The job market continues to change. They can help you stay current on your job search knowledge. They can also help you determine what makes the most sense for you, your industry, field, and level of experience and ensure that you’ve considered everything before accepting that job offer.

2. Practice makes perfect

The number one mistake people make in their search is being unprepared. Your coach will make sure that you are prepared going into each step of your search. From creating the right personal brand (resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter) to knowing how to answer interview questions and successfully negotiating your total compensation package.

3. Emotions run high during a job search.

A coach is there to help you work through the process without the emotion you and inevitably your partner will bring to the process. Your coach cares about your success. They will let you work through those emotions, then help you to get to the core of what is holding you back.

4. Coaches have connections

Your coach can help connect you to people in your field – either through personal connections or teaching you the best ways to reach out and connect. Your job search shouldn’t just be about hitting the “easy apply” button. Most people find their next position through their network so if you aren’t reaching out, you are losing out on many opportunities.

5. They will keep you on track

A good coach will act as your accountability. For many, the skills associated with the job search do not come naturally. That makes it easy to find excuses to procrastinate on some of the more difficult parts of the job search. With accountability, you are bound to get to your next position faster.

Coaching covers many aspects of the job search depending on where your needs lie. A good coach will start with making sure you are clear on where you want to land next. From there, they can assist with tips on improving your search process, interview prep, salary negotiations and everything in between.

While investing in your job search can be daunting, especially when you aren’t currently pulling in a paycheck, when done right it is a solid investment. Career coaches will help you navigate an unfamiliar and complicated process creating clarity and peace of mind that you are taking all the right steps.

 

 

 

 

DD Haines

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