Over the years, I have had experience of innumerable conversations with business owners and business managers. Just see a sample of what they shared …

“It is always a struggle to find good talent in the market; we have business ideas and plans, but not talent to execute”

“It is so difficult to get at least 6 hours of productivity from people….I don’t know what we are having them for”

“This guy is too good; that is our strength and that is our problem – he just doesn’t allow anyone else to grow under him”

“By the time we sense that employee’s morale is down, it is too late – we receive the resgination letter. Retention is a big challenge”

“There is a feeling among employees that they performed very well; but when I see the results, there is nothing much to brag about”

Which of the above is an issue that can be ignored by the business? Frankly, none. It is only a question of who will address which issue.

These anecdotes and several more reinforce the fact that people management has so much direct influence on growth and survival of a business. No wonder several smart managers and leaders of business focus a lot on people management in their pursuit of growth!

Five tips to leverage people strength to drive growth:

1  Make HR and people management a core business agenda and not merely the responsibility of the ‘HR Department’.

2  Equip managers with people management skills (don’t assume that they get it on their own)

3  Strive to hire the best by offering a value-proposition that is beyond money (yes, young talent wants more than just money!)

4  Establish clear expectations and systems to get the best out of people. Remember that good performance is not accidental – it is by design!

5  Listen to employee voice and be responsive from time to time

Finally, it is important to note that it is only a question of time and scale before people management becomes an imperative for business growth. Earlier one senses, more the time to prepare and leverage the people strength!

Note: If you wish to know more about our experiences of how we helped many managers develop their people management skills, and about our Certified People Manager (CPM) program, please do write to info@hrfootprints.com

Ready to drive growth through effective people management? Contact us today to learn how we can help you build a stronger, more productive workforce that’s geared for success.