At our MMBA conference this year, Jim Langemo talked about staffing issues and with the unemployment rate being so low some ways we more effectively source new employees.

We also had Tom Shay talking about this about 5 or 6 years ago.

This is an issue we always need to keep on top of.

One thing I have found over the years of working with employees is that you must have a balance between the freedom and the control given to staff.

If we ran an organization with no control and total freedom for all employees you can imagine how that would turn out.

On the flip side, if we have too tight of controls and we set a policy for every imaginable situation, we lose the ability for our staff to be creative and think outside the strict policy guidelines.

When it comes to setting a policy, ask yourself this question, "Is that something I deal with from the staff in general, or is this something that just one has an issue with?"

Deal with individual problems individually, and deal with group problems with policy.

Also make sure when you set policies and procedures, you act as leader in taking their hand and leading them through what may be considered a maze.

Don't push them through.

Allow employees enough room to fail at something and if they do fail, don't take it away from them.

Use it as a teachable moment and give it back to them until they find the reasons to do it the right way.

Remember the manager with the "Mirror and Window."

When things are going well, the good manager looks out the window at his staff and the bad manager looks in the mirror at himself.

When things are going badly the good manager looks in the mirror at himself and the bad manager looks out the window at his employees.

Remember to try to find that balance between freedom and control.

Know that your employees are volunteers and they choose to work there as you do.

Don't ever treat them like they are forced to work there.

I hope these ideas help you with developing and building a stronger staff that can rally around the needs of the organization.

As always if you ever have any question or comments you can contact me at Tagnes@brooklyncenterliquor.com

Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center

Wife: "Windows frozen."

Husband: "Pour some warm water over them."

Wife: "Computer completely screwed up now."