21 PRACTICAL AND PROVEN TECHNIQUES

  1. Negotiate the Right Salary

Ask around to determine what the job is worth in the current market

Think through and determine how much you can afford to pay for someone in this position

If you are hiring someone away from another company, you will have to pay at least 10 percent more than he or she is currently receiving

The range of benefits

Start the person at a lower wage than she requests, but agree to increase her salary within ninety days if she does a great job

  1. Start Them Off Right

Introduce the new employee to his coworkers on the first day

Create a “buddy system” for each new person

Have his work area prepared and organized

Assign the new person to someone who will be responsible for showing him the ropes

  1. Start Them Off Strong

Start her off with lots of work to do

As you hand out the assignments, provide lots of opportunity for feedback and discussion about the work

Be prepared to take the time necessary to teach the new person how to do her new job

Compliment the new person on an idea, suggestion, or accomplishment

  1. Solve Problems Quickly

What’s the solution?

What do we do now?

What’s the next step?

  1. Improve Performance Professionally

Quantify everything

Never assume understanding

Set measurable standards of performance for the job you want done

Give regular feedback on performance

Sit down with each employee and explain clearly what he or she is expected to do

Inspect what you expect