And how to attract the right people the first time round.
I agree with Donald Trump’s views on hiring and firing staff because running a business is challenging enough, the last thing you need is lame and lazy staff who think they are doing you a favour by turning up. I have always been of the view that if you want to achieve great things you need to surround yourself with the very best people and expect high standards from all of your team.
“It is a funny thing about life: If you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it.”
W. Somerset Maugham
So what makes Donald Trump want to sack someone?
“When an employee told me, “I think it’s good enough” in reference to an unfinished project, I fired him. Good enough?” ………..”I want people who want more than good enough. I want employees who want great and will go the extra mile for the very best. I don’t want to have to tell them, I want them to do it on their own” says Donald Trump. (1)
How Donald attracts the right people
“Management becomes much easier if you are careful when choosing your employees and partners” (2) “Set the example and you will be a magnet for the right people. That’s the best way to work with people you like” (3) says Donald Trump.
When referring to successful candidates in his series The Apprentice Donald says “The key to success was experience, not education. Experience comes from action or doing, and entails taking risks. Knowledge is essential, but knowledge alone isn’t enough. You must act on your knowledge, put it to work, because doing is how you learn and ultimately prove yourself” (4)
How Donald deals with the wrong people
Step One: “Don’t ignore employee performance problems. The sooner you can talk with the employee, the more likely you can get him or her back on track. Getting great work from employees is a sign of a strong leader”.
Step Two: “See if an underperforming employee could improve with additional training, equipment, or switching tasks”.
Step Three: “Since firings can be emotional, it often helps to discuss the situation with an objective advisor before you actually dismiss an employee”
Step Four: “If you believe improvement is possible, meet with the employee, and give him or her a fixed period to deliver measurable results. Be clear about your requirements and state exactly what you expect, and specify that if what you need is not satisfactorily provided, he or she will be fired. Then follow through”. (5)
Trump, D (2007) “Trump 101 The Way to Success” John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey p83
Trump, D (2007) “Trump 101 The Way to Success” John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey p71
Trump, D (2007) “Trump 101 The Way to Success” John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey p73
Trump, D (2007) “Trump 101 The Way to Success” John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey p37
Trump, D (2007) “Trump 101 The Way to Success” John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey p35
Committed to hiring the right person the first time round and recovering all the costs of the campaign!
David Osborne
www.profitablepersonnel.com
David Osborne
