The new picture of business, at least for the next year or so, seems to be one of closings, cutbacks and trimming. The obvious approach would be to cut back like everyone else but there may be a better way. For many years we have been faced with a scarce labor market. In fact, one lament I hear all the time is, “It is hard to get good people!” That time is past! Good people are being let go and put on the street in droves.

One result from years of a tight labor market is what the army terms ROAD Warriors. These are Retired On Active Duty Warriors, people in your organization who act like they are doing the job but in reality lack the drive, commitment, ingenuity and desire to always find new and better ways to serve your customers.

This new economy presents the opportunity to root out and replace ROAD Warriors with people who are committed, motivated, inspired and willing to work with everyone on your team. The challenge is how to go about the hiring and replacement process. Replacing people can be a waste of time, money and be very disruptive if you get rid of the wrong people or don’t hire better ones!

First, a management process is critical to identify those who are not committed to your success. The staff knows who these ROAD Warriors are but they are often hidden from the management. Establishing teams and implementing Winning@Business™ is a great way to identify these people.

Hiring better people requires a process to identify those who can truly do the job, not just the person who is best at getting the job. A Management One® affiliate can work with business owners to look in the right places, ask the right questions and put candidates through the right process to hire the best.

Hiring is never complete until the orientation process and job training is complete. Teamwork, communication and the creation of an environment that is exciting will help you succeed in the next year. It’s up to you!