By ROBERT JUMPER
ONE FEATHER EDITOR
I recently viewed a post on Facebook that read, “Treat employees like they make a difference and they will.” It is very important to remember as an employer and/or manager that everyone is valuable, including those who serve you.
There are many business and governmental employees that provide services and products to the Qualla Boundary and immediately surrounding counties commonly known as the Cherokee Indian Reservation. As a business owner, it is important to know what your employees think of you and your business, as much as those who are buying your product. Those “front line” employees are the ones who interact directly with your customers and product. They control the image and quality of both.
There has been much research toward the end of identifying what motivates the people who work for companies. Key motivators for workers are not the fear of firing or promise of high wages, as some would guess. I recently reviewed an article at the Forbes magazine website (https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensundheim/2013/11/26/what-really-motivates-employees/) and found that being able to be creative and have a sense of self-worth will produce employees that are invested in your business and equate your business success to their own personal success.
In my nearly 30 years of employment, I have served as both employee and employer. It has been my experience that when employees are properly treated and motivated, a bond of trust is created that benefits both the owner/management and the worker. If the worker cares about the work that they do, there is a resulting increase in productivity.
Many of you are leaders of people in the workforce. I urge you to examine the relationship between you and the people who are the face of your business, for the sake of your business and the future of the community.
There are many great resources on the Boundary to assist you with assessment and curriculum on managerial and employee assessment like the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce (offices located in the future home of the Fly Fishing Museum next to the Cherokee Welcome Center), the Sequoyah Fund and the EBCI Business Development Office located in the Ginger Lynn Welch Complex.
