Vital Connections

By Georganne Weeks, Concept H.R.

Many business owners generally bite off more than they can chew in thinking that they can be experts in all of the specialized areas of running a business. They want to believe that they can do it all themselves and fail to realize that it is critically important for them to develop and nurture relationships in order to form a supportive team that will contribute to their success. This team might include sales and marketing professionals, insurance brokers, bankers, accounting, attorneys, IT specialists and, possibly Payroll/HR outsourcing companies.

It goes without saying that the ability to build great relationships is a common trait of highly successful, business owners. Their ability to attract, cultivate and build relationships is the determining factor for success. If you think about it, everything we accomplish in life is with or through someone else. No man is an island, and in business, you need other people to help you along the way. People do business with people that they like and that they can trust.

The business owner/employee relationship is certainly one of the most important relationships for the business owner to cultivate. The business owner who invests into building strong employment relations creates a pleasant work environment, which increases employee motivation and improves employee morale. It is known that employees who feel recognized, respected and appreciated will be more productive, more efficient, create less conflict and will be more loyal. Business owners who are engaged in developing a productive and pleasant workplace also improve employee retention, and in doing so they drastically cut the costs associated with employee turnover. Employees who share a sense of mutual respect and admiration with their employer value their jobs and truly care about the business. They want to do their part to make the business a success, so they’re always searching for ways to work faster, cut costs and create innovative products that will offer a competitive advantage.

Establishing a strong relationship with the customer is a very important step towards improving customer relations. It takes time and effort; however, getting to know the customer and interacting with them gives business owners insight into what makes the customer tick. Most importantly, the ability to fulfill the needs of their customers is actually the secret to success for leading entrepreneurs. Focusing on the customer experience is what drives the business and creates a network of new and repeat customers.

What about those connections outside the revenue sources of your business?
Most business owners know the frustrations associated with spending more time than they have on non-revenue generating activities. Therefore, another valuable and much needed relationship for a business owner might be that of a third party provider to outsource some of their administrative work. It’s important that business owners realize that they can’t do it all or know it all.  Failing to realize the complexities of processing payroll, payroll tax administration, benefits administration, and labor law compliance can result in expensive legal fees and penalties. Smart business owners realize that these time-consuming and often overwhelming responsibilities need to be shifted to those who are more focused and more qualified. In order to minimize these challenges and remove some of the stress associated with the start up of a new business, business owners often turn to HR outsourcing companies. The successful business owner understands the importance of streamlining their operations and that outsourcing HR functions will allow them to obtain the expertise and administrative help they need so that they can focus on the other important tasks involved in running and growing a successful business.

And last, but certainly not least, is the importance of building relationships with leaders and influencers in your industry.  The advantage of having connections with other people who share your passion, your mission and your purpose cannot be overstated. When business owners find people who sharpen and strengthen their skills, it’s important to hold on to them. Small business owners need relationships with people who will support them, help them, and challenge them.

Remember, none of us can do it alone and when you build and nurture positive business relationships with your employees, customers, and business partners, you will set a strong foundation for success as a small business owner.

Georganne Weeks is currently PHR and SHRM-CP certified and has more than 25 years of human resource management experience.  She has conducted numerous training seminars and has supported hundreds of clients for Concept H.R. for over nine years.  Concept H.R. has solutions to many common human resource issues including payroll, benefits, 401(k) and risk management administration unique to the dynamics of a diverse workforce.  You can find the expertise needed to maintain compliance with employment labor laws and regulations on a federal, state, and local level, all given with the highest personal customized care.