Level Up! Promote – Hire from Your Existing Talent

As Servant Leaders, it’s important that we don’t forget this main thought (given my knowledge of the workforce), "without our Employees, we are simply just business owners without purpose but with passion." The passion that we have for our business must encompass the Employees that we've already selected to run our business. Don’t miss out on the talent that’s already within your Employee Population. Have your HR Leadership take notice of achievements, for instance when an Employee does process improvement and product enhancement, reward them with more pay but also offer tools to help the continue to excel. Create or revamp the Talent Management System.

Don’t hold all of the cash for yourselves; Servant Leaders appreciates their talent population, rewarding them accordingly. They realize that they have exactly what they need in-house for those positions that they feel need filled. They’ve already been in contact with their Upper, Middle, and Lower Management Teams to decide who should lead the next project; the person(s) that will lead the company to greater heights.

Thus, Servant Leaders should be focused on educating and growing their Employee population. They give them a voice, they actually listen and respond by doing the given suggestions. They don’t ignore sound advice, no matter if it comes from Upper Management or a regular Employee without a Management Title. Therefore, they have a Leadership program designed to help Employees be promoted to higher paying positions with more responsibilities that they are proud to orchestrate.

Why give an existing Employee(s) an opportunity to fill a position of which you would otherwise be filled outside of the business? Because your existing Employee(s) are very skilled and highly trained; they’ve been on the front lines of the business handling the daily activities (duties) that you would otherwise be unable to accomplish without them – presents more reason to promote from within.

Promoting from within is pivotal in the success of a business. Why pay someone from the outside when you have talent right before your eyes that maybe has been getting the backseat but has been exceeding work expectations. The Employee(s) that go above and beyond, making sacrifices to work extended hours and do “other duties as assigned” are the ones that receive the REAL credit for your business’ success.

Show gratitude and humility. Be kind and help them get up, rising above what they thought they’d never accomplish while working for your business. Give them the opportunity to shine, to introduce new ways of doing things, to reinvent your corporate culture, to redefine policies and procedures as well as lead others with integrity and grit.

Servant Leaders realizes the Power of Many, that is, that the business cannot be successful and profitable without the help of those who’ve been there since day one. Work on Employee Retention; keep those who love working for you and let those who aren’t interested in blossoming, be relieved of their duties – in which you backfill with an existing Employee who understands and is willing to step up and handle the position.

Finally, a Servant Leader is very sincere about seeing others grow, mature, develop and define themselves (as a replica of your business’ growth, success and opportunity afforded), all because your Employees don’t just enjoy being paid, aren’t working just for a paycheck, but they’re invested in you, in your goals, your AOPs (Annual Operating Procedures). They’re invested and you are too! Take the time to notice the talent around you. Focus on uplifting, encouraging, empowering, inspiring and developing them to become the next entrepreneur, the next business owner, like you.

As a Servant Leader, you’re not afraid of being inferior nor afraid of seeing your Employees go beyond you, doing things that they love, mimicking their Leader(s) and exceeding their Leader’s accomplishments. They go on to create their own “stamp on life” but will always remember your service, your dedication to them.

"Without our Employees, we are simply just business owners without purpose but with passion." - E. Nelson