| While enjoying a little R&R at the Rio in Las | | | | people skills, take note of the name and location of |
| Vegas I watched as a woman showed up for a job | | | | this person. If your business is in the service industry, |
| interview to be a dealer in the poker room at the | | | | you need to be looking for people people. Task |
| Rio. She spoke well, was dressed properly and had | | | | related skills can be easily taught through effective |
| years of experience as a dealer; however, it was her | | | | training programs, but teaching someone to change |
| one accessory that made the interviewer fold that | | | | their ways in their interaction with people can be a |
| job interview faster than a 7/2 off-suit: Her drink. | | | | laborious and monumental task. |
| Yes, this woman showed up for her job interview | | | | Anticipate job openings |
| holding and sipping a bourbon drink at roughly 10am! | | | | In the early days of my career the company I |
| After she was quickly dismissed the poker room | | | | worked with had what we called "spare help." A few |
| manager and I just looked at each other in disbelief. | | | | extra people on the payroll filled in for open positions, |
| The poker room manager then tells me, "That's | | | | and allowed the organization to cross-train their |
| what's available in the workforce these days." Only if | | | | better workers in anticipation of future needs. The |
| you are standing by and waiting. | | | | down-sizing craze in the late 80's eliminated these |
| Jump across the country with me to Myrtle Beach, | | | | positions permanently. It's time to rethink that. |
| South Carolina. You are sitting in an upscale | | | | One important aspect of a job the younger |
| restaurant and your wait staff is marginal at best. | | | | generations of workers are looking for is constant |
| Then you notice the waiter three tables over | | | | learning opportunity. To keep them you need to |
| delivering drinks, incredible service, task efficiency and | | | | constantly teach them thereby strengthening your |
| very personable without being overbearing. Here is | | | | staff in the process. If your staff is better trained to |
| someone who understands serving people. Do you | | | | handle multiple functions, you are prepared for |
| admire from afar, or do you take action? | | | | potential job openings and your staff and customers |
| Constantly scout for talent | | | | never see a hic cup. Having a couple of "spare help" |
| The responsibility of keeping a file of great prospects | | | | allows you to develop your workforce, keep them |
| is the key to rapidly filling open jobs. Corporate | | | | longer, and create more consistency through times |
| executives need to be talent scouts at all times. | | | | of illness and vacations. Your bottom line will benefit |
| Whenever you find yourself being served with great | | | | as well as your customers. |