For some time now, my wife has been trying recruit an office assistant for her business. This hasn't been easy at all. The reasons range from having applicants who can't express themselves to applicants that do not know what they are applying for.
Strange isn't it? Well, I believe the most valuable asset in any firm are not the equipments or furniture that adorn the office, it is the staff (competent staff).
A competent staff is one that is ready to learn, knows what to do, when and how to do his/her work.
The worst thing you can do to me is put me in a work enviroment along with incompetent personnel. It will amaze you at how intermittently I transform from a viscious warewolf back into an eloquent gentleman.
You see, am alergic to bullshit. I am unrepentantly fast, patient to learn, think outside the box and give my work 100%. Most staff that I term as incompetent are:
1. very un-willing to learn (apparently, they know it all but produce no result) and
2. they amazing don't know what, when and how to do anything. The reason being that their minds freeze and their default answer is "I don't know".
It has commonly been said that "a good hand is hard to find", I strongly believe this. The right ingredient to getting the right staff are: good remuneration and welfare packages, great work enviroment and so on.
When these are in place, the right staff will be pulled into your gravitational sphere and if the wrong ones come, they will know they are in the wrong zone (especially when they have a result oriented boss).
In all of this, my advise for Entrepreneurs and Business owners is this: get your office up and running and 2ndly how much are you willing to pay for a good hand.
And if you are an applicant, the first thing you need to do is
1. Be determined. There is no such thing as "I don't know". If you don't know, find out.
2. Be proactive. Nothing is impossible. You can't say "it is not possible", task your mind and find out how it can be done- think outside the box.
3. Be teachable. Learn to listen more and talk less. Try not to be overtly defensive, you cannot justify your ignorance.
4. Escalate. When you have difficulty in completing a task, ask questions. If you have a challenge, escalate (report to your immediate boss). Do not keep quiet.
I do hope these tips have been helpful. As for my wife, well the outcome of her search may have to be communicated to you latter (smiling mischieviously).
Till we meet again, keep winning.
David Chiaka
Twitter: @MrChiaka
