Human Resourcefulness

by Ellen Frost

Human Resourcefulness
By Ellen Frost

Dealing with people on the job can be fulfilling, frustrating, funny and fearsome. Laws and customs are constantly changing. When it comes to people, making sound legal decisions can make your life easier…but if you make the wrong choice, you could find yourself, and your business, in hot water. Owners and managers of small businesses have their hands full already, meeting the challenges presented by a struggling economy.

My simplest advice is this: The only time you have to give an immediate answer to an employee is in a life-threatening situation. “No, you can’t eat your lunch at your desk, the fire alarm just rang. Go!”

When an employee asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, don’t fake it. Tell that employee that you will have to think about it or get further information from someone else. Just because someone asks you a question, it doesn’t mean you have to respond at that time. But, play fair. If you need to take some time to find the right course of action, tell the employee when he/she can expect an answer from you. THEN KEEP YOUR COMMITMENT. Take the time you need to call your accountant, your lawyer, your insurance broker, your mother, whomever. As soon as you know what you need to say, get back to the employee. If you need a little more time, say so, but don’t keep someone hanging on indefinitely.

By being consistent and trustworthy, you will gain the confidence of your employees and you’ll gain the time you need to make decisions that won’t backfire and hurt the business.

Ellen Frost is the Director of Human Resources for Hallmark Lighting in Chatsworth and serves on the Business Advisory Board of Build Work Source Center.