Sunday, March 14, 2010

It’s an employers’ market……now what?

Given the current state of global economy, we all know just how scarce jobs are. But what does that mean to an employer? More importantly, what does that mean to you as a leader/manager? One may assume that many employees are motivated to keep their existing jobs more than ever before. If yours is one of the few companies that are hiring, you probably have a much larger pool of candidates applying for jobs. So where does that leave you? The phrase “employers’ market” can sometimes give a false sense of security, suggesting that somehow your job is easier, but nothing could be further from the truth. An employers’ market doesn’t come with an endless supply of problem-free, super talented, unbelievably motivated employees.

Your new/current employees are probably quite happy to have a job. But what motivates them? If having a paycheck is the only reason someone shows up, you as their leader/manager have your work cut out for you. It’s much easier to lead and manage happy, involved, and motivated employees than it is to motivate people who are there simply because they have no other choice.

The bottom line for you as the leader/manager is that you can’t mistake the current economic state for a big advantage in your favor. It’s crucial that you continue to lead, manage, guide, support, inspire (etc, etc, etc.) like you would if it was an employees’ market. Bring out the best in your employees. Unite your team, and take advantage of the talent that’s available to you to get through these difficult times.