Greetings!  

The election results are in and our representatives can now focus on the fiscal cliff, something everyone wants to avoid but seemingly few want to actually legislate. Judging by the markets, investors assume they will come to some sort of agreement but we will have to endure the public posturing for a few more weeks.

The one thing we can always count on at this time of the year is the holidays, the shopping, the parties and family gatherings. Finish the year by focusing on what's important in your life.

Most of us have been employees at some point in our lives - employees of large companies or small, government agencies or family businesses. Despite that fact, many of the business owners I talk to are surprised that their employees don't care about their business as much as they do. What many business owners fail to recognize is what they care about is their jobs.

What I've found is that 95 percent of the population wants to do a good job. If you are complaining about your employees, begin by looking inward. Who are you hiring? What are you paying for that help? What training and supervision are you providing? Do you have written job descriptions and procedures that your employees can follow? Whether someone quits or you have to let them go, it was probably 60 percent your responsibility and 40 percent theirs.

So, what do employees want? Oddly enough, pay is not most important. They do want to be fairly compensated. But, what's most important is usually being given the opportunity and tools to do a good job. Most people are keenly aware of wasting time. They want to work effectively and, if you've clearly explained the goals, will probably figure out a way to do their job more efficiently. The challenge is to make sure they have met all the requirements.

They want feedback. Feedback is not criticism. It's instruction, encouragement, and praise when appropriate. They also want the opportunity to be heard. Believe me, they see and understand all the problems. Have you asked them about solutions? The problem might be you - don't be afraid to ask if that's the case. You'll be more respected for asking.

They might not want to take on more responsibility. Don't assume they have the same motivation you do. Find out what they actually want by asking them and then respect their answer. If they are interested in taking on more responsibility, they must also be given authority in equal measure. Responsibility without authority is just a headache waiting to happen.

Finally, they know you have the power and authority - you don't have to remind them. The deal is simple, they do the work and you pay them - no more, no less. The fact, though, is that you are dependent upon them for the work that gets done and the money that gets made. Make sure you thank them for doing a good job. They'll probably appreciate that more than the pay.

It's one thing for you to be out there selling - it's your company. As soon as you hire someone to do that you've created a different dynamic. Don't assume they have the same enthusiasm or motivation. For them it's a job. Give them the tools and support to do their job well, then get out of the way. They will be interested in how you did it, but since they don't have the same personality or motivation, they will have to develop their own style. That takes time. Be patient and supportive, but agree in advance about expectations and results.

Your employees won't network with the same motivation you do. It's their job to develop relationships on your behalf, but those relationships will be theirs to maintain. Remind them of that and the fact that how they maintain relationships will affect their reputation - no matter who they happen to be working for at the time.

The Small Business Advocacy Council is a relatively new organization to the Chicagoland area. I joined about 6 months ago. Its supports the needs of small businesses and a majority of the members have a B to B focus. They now have a Lake County Chapter and I highly recommend that you make the time to attend on of their scheduled events. Visit their website for more information.

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The little book of big ideas