September 2008 Vol 1, Issue 4

Provided by: HRGroup The workforce catalyst

Performance & Productivity Catalysts Why Read HRTips?   John and I want your business to flourish as the result of the improved productivity and the superior performance of your workforce. You told us what you want in HRTips and we plan to help you out by presenting the information in a fresh, punchy, four section format:     HRTip Insights to help you select, manage, develop, motivate and retain the right people     HRGreen Tip Ideas to help all of us contribute to a sustainable world   HRGroup In Action  Case studies - real stories reflecting actual hands-on client engagements     Ask the HRPros An opportunity for you to ask us about your most difficult HR issues   Our bottom line is to have HRTips provide you with what we have learned --- and continue to learn --- from practical HR experience.  Thanks, Ted & John   HRGroup Client Quote  "They are thorough, knowledgeable, conscientious, have quick follow-up and are gung-ho to help your company succeed".     Company President HRTip     "How Should You Lead During                                 Turbulent Times??"     Leaders are facing a great challenge: navigating through a down economy while keeping employees at the top of their game.         Here's a road map based on information provided by Vistage® International to keep your business and employees in top performance mode.      Simplify Your Business Plan If you've seen a slow down in sales, an increase in cost or other mounting pressures, then it's time to refocus your goals and reset your top objectives. Create a limited set of quantifiable objectives with specific timelines and hold people accountable for those objectives Identify and remove the roadblocks that hinder your team's performance Communicate with your team frequently about these objectives. Communication is the glue that holds the organization together.   Commit The Plan To Your Employees One of the key factors in keeping top talent during both lean and good times is to be a strong and effective communicator. Communicate your "must do" items to employees Ask everyone on the team to identify things they will personally stop doing that will free up valuable resources to handle the "must do's" Keep conversations focused on what has to be done to accomplish the organization's top objectives. Challenge yourself to stay focused on things that will determine your success.   Lead Your Employees Employees want to work for strong leaders who have a plan and know where the company is headed. Here are some things you can do to successfully lead your team through rough times. Reward your people for the results they achieve, not for how hard they work Don't cut back on rewards and recognition during leaner times Be honest and tell your team what they need to do to win Be hard on performance and easy on people Acknowledge success and reinforce the positive People are your most important asset, and to that end, let your employees know that you are committed to their success. That means, be accountable to your team and ensure they are accountable to you.   Are You An Effective Communicator?     Many of us make the mistake of assuming that others interact and think in the same way they do.  One of the biggest challenges to effective communication is to recognize that people may have a style different from our own.  To learn more about effective communication skills contact us at: info@hrgrouponline.com.  HRGreenTip         "Save Energy, Save $$$,                                                  Save the Planet"   As we work and play on this big blue orb, we should also help one another protect our environment. So, in each issue of HRTips we include ideas for you to  "Green It Forward"  Ted & John    Did you know that lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home's electric bill...often more in business settings?    Qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs, last up to ten times longer, cost little more up-front and provide a quick ROI.  And, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that if every American household replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars annually. HRGroup Green It Forward Program   In addition to providing green tips with each of our newsletters, HRGroup has partnered with Energy Star by pledging to do our part to make our planet greener.    If you or others you know would like to help us acheive our goal it is as simple as clicking the Energy Star image to the right.  There is no cost to pledging---just invest a minute or two of your time and you will be contributing to a more sustainable world!! HRGroup In Action    John and I want to substitute an Announcement in this issue rather than provide a Case Study. It's all about Moving Forward as we expand the services that HRGroup can provide.       We are pleased to announce that Patti Stoner has become affiliated with HRGroup, LLC.  This strategic alliance expands her capabilities beyond HR generalist projects and interim work to meet clients' business needs in the following areas: Building High Performance Teams Improving Employee Retention Selecting Top Talent Developing Leaders Improving Performance, Communication and Organizational Effectiveness  Through the use of various individual, team and organizational assessments and benchmarking tools, we will work together to assist companies in selecting, developing and retaining the right people in the right jobs.  Assessments include DISC, Workplace Motivators, TriMetrix, 360's and Abilities, Behavior & Dependability Forecaster Tests among others. About HR Strategies Patti Stoner, SPHR founded HR Strategies to provide organizations with HR project or interim support in the area of talent acquisition, compensation & benefits, policy development, performance management and legal compliance.  With over 25 years of HR experience in small to medium sized organizations Patti brings a wealth of HR expertise to her clients.   If you would like more information regarding our combined capabilities, please contact Patti at phstoner@cox.net or 602-432-7642.  Or, contact John or Ted at info@hrgrouponline.com   Diagnose Needs ~ Identify Obstacles ~ Recommend Strategies ~ Measure Results Ask the HRPros       What is your most difficult Human Resources issue?   It's likely we can help...if you just ask.    Please forward your issues/questions to us and we will incorporate them into future e-newsletters.                                Want more information? Call Ted or John at (480) 753-6188, shoot us an email at info@hrgrouponline.com, or visit www.hrgrouponline.com.   Don't hesitate to "Pay It Foward" by sending this e-newsletter to someone who could benefit.