Five tips to attract and build your best workforce

In a time where everyone talks about Artificial Intelligence (AI) it’s good to remember that our biggest capital in the workplace is still human capital. We hear constant complaints from businesses about the shortage of talent. What does that actually mean – shortage of talent – and what can you do to find the right people?

The answer is the law of attraction (but without the esoteric undertone). In fact, there is a multitude of talent out there that is probably a perfect match for your business, but you might be unaware of it. Employment branding is a fancy term for building up your reputation as an employer so people will want to work for you. If you are smart about it you will only attract those who provide the best skills and motivation for your business.

Here are five tips to make the most of your brand:

Clear and consistent messages- If you fail to be clear and consistent about who you are (not just what you do) then you are sending confusing messages out into the workforce. Understand what your business is about, your values and purpose beyond just making profit. The decision to accept a new job is an emotional decision and not only guided by rational criteria. Employees need to relate to your purpose and values to understand if they align it with their own. This is necessary to ultimately thrive in a specific environment.
Create the right culture- What do you need from your people? Are you a quirky, creative environment that profits most from ad hoc collaboration and spontaneous building of working groups or a more conservative, deep thinking and individual based company? Either way, you need to understand the working process and your own business personality to create and support the right culture for your desired outcomes.
Unlock potential- Studies show that employees who have the opportunity to work autonomously, are more innovative, productive and more engaged. In order to unlock their potential and help them achieve their best results encourage using their strengths at a maximum and shift tasks that are outside their sweet spot to someone else whose potential sits there.
Nurture talent- Employees are happiest, less stressed and work at their full potential when they feel appreciated. Make them part of the business by making sure they know how their work contributes to the bigger picture. A healthy business starts with a happy workforce.
Authenticity. Commit to your values and purpose. Live and breathe it because your staff will see right through lip service and hollow words on your website. Long-term studies prove time and again that highly successful businesses care about what they do, what they stand for and put their employees first.