This week my Chief Executive Vistage groups got together in person for the first time in 15 months. Wow! It was so sweet. There were so many lovely side conversations before starting, during breaks and sometimes during the meeting as people reconnected or met for the first time. >
Every Vistage group is having the same discussion: how/ who/ when to go back to the office? Those who never stopped going in – the essential in-person company leaders roll – their eyes. They have been masked up and in the office/field the whole time, but what about the rest of us???? >
We got one of those calls last Sunday morning that you do not look forward to – Paul’s cousin, Dennis Connolly had stopped breathing at the rehab center. Almost 82 years old, he left no children – Paul was his closest relative. What now? >
Today is that day that my Mom always dismissed as a Hallmark Holiday. To her, it was a made-up day to sell greeting cards. For the florists, it may be the beginning of recovery from the pandemic. And for many it is a reminder of something or someone they miss. >
A few days ago I realized that once again, it was me that was holding me up. It was time to get out of my own way, again. Sigh. >
As we come out of the economic destruction of the pandemic, we struggle with scarcity in every part of the economy. Scarcity of raw materials, scarcity of transport, scarcity of components and scarcity of workers.
Think this isn’t serious? >
When the pandemic began last year, and many parts of the economy hit a hard stop, I warned that how we treat our team members will long be remembered. They may not leave us in the moment, but the opportunity would come with the recovery. In case you hadn’t noticed, that moment has arrived.
Contacted on LinkedIn, or by recruiters they have never met, our best team members are being hunted and offered really sweet packages. And, when they get hired away because they can’t turn down a 20% increase in their pay (after all they have kids who will go to college if school finally goes back to in-person), you will have to pay their replacement more than your current 10 year employees with more experience. Argh!
What to do? First of all, say thank you. Seriously. Personally thank your team. Individually if possible but if you are communicating by video, look right into the camera and say thank you to your team for getting you through this crazy year. Acknowledge the parents (especially the Mom’s) who heroically kept our families and our companies going. Acknowledge the loss of family members and health that many suffered.
Double down on your great culture. Hopefully, all of the work you did in the last year to focus on your core strengths, to communicate well with your team whether in person or at the work place, to listen deeply to them and to customers, will make you an extremely desirable place to work. So, if a few team members are recruited away, you will be able to replace them with great talent.
Start recruiting now by creating or reinforcing a company presence on LinkedIn that shows who you are. Make sure your website is attractive to potential recruits. Remember, if they are now remote employees, they can work for some other company in another time zone. If you ever were in the driver’s seat on hiring, that has disappeared. If I haven’t scared you enough, read this article from Joe Galvin, Chief Research Officer at Vistage. And, if you company executive, and are not in Vistage, ask yourself, why not?
Floating through my head these days is a Christmas song which starts: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…..everywhere I go….”. There is a sense of giddiness as people are past their second vaccine and they are meeting in person. Plans are being made to return to offices, to travel, to resume where we left off last March.
Before we do that, let’s acknowledge those who went above and beyond any reasonable expectations this year. >
It is such a hopeful time! Easter is the story of hope. Spring’s beauty shouts hope. The number of shots in arms screams hope. I’m noticing that hope is an individual and a group phenomena. What is your hope now for yourself? And what is your hope now for our country? >