Ask yourself this question... do you have a

Thank you Paul, Dien, Mel, Gordon for your replies. It has helped clarify a LOT for me.

I have the heard the following sentiments from way to many employees.

“Duane I would leave my job, but they just keep promoting me!”
“Duane you’re young get the Heck out, before you get TRAPPED like US.”
We have to do this!”

While some are very content with what they do at work; others just want to escape but feel they can’t.

All I can say is “YIKES!”

In answer to my own questions, here are the 2 methods to keeping employees working for your company for a very long time.

Method #1 Make job functions Increasingly specialized

Method #2 Make job functions more Entrepreneurial in Nature

Method #1 Specialization: is used by BIG CORPORATIONS and Government

1) That is to keep the job functions as specialized as possible. So that you never really learn how everything fits together. Therefore you will never leave and become my competition. Why not? Because you don’t believe you can put the pieces together. All you have done since you left school was YOUR SPECIALTY.

Example: “Hey I studied accounting in University. I spent years to get my CGA, CFA, CPA etc. I AM a corporate accountant. That’s what I am that’s what I do.”

2) Create a work environment that’s like a second family. Keep everybody happy with perks, nice titles, a promotion, staff parties, potlucks galore and hey don’t forget birthdays. If you’re good at it, then it’s very hard to leave your family.

3) Use performance bonuses and other financial incentives to keep people motivated

Method #2 was to make each job function more Entrepreneurial perhaps responsible for their bottom line.

Examples:

Read Gordon’s Post about a SCI. here’s the link http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=7353

Conclusions:

I think Method #1 Specialization creates a sense of dependence in its employees. They see their job as something that they “Have to do”. In this method employees can be seen as a cost to be kept down.

Method #2 however employees could feel more free. Employees would be paid more and feel like they own something. Employees might not be seen as a cost to be kept down, but a valuable money generator that can grow the bottom line profits of the business owner.

Thank you all for your insightful replies.

Sincerely,

Duane O. Adolph

> Hi Dien,

> I'd like you to imagine that "YOU ARE
> THE MAN" in your town.

> (Hey I know you "Rule" the SOWPUB
> world but this is just hypothetically
> speaking :->)

> You are the richest man in town. You own a
> huge Direct Mail Corporation. You sell a
> very Unique product.

> You also have the top specialists in the
> county working for YOU. Ace Accountants,
> Superstar Marketing ladies, the best
> copywriters, 5 star customer service people,
> The top computer nerd in the land...etc.etc.

> STOP!

> "O.K come back to SOWPUB for just a
> minute."

> Here are my 3 questions.

> 1) How would you stop your top employees
> from taking your idea/ideas and building a
> business of their own to compete with
> you?...

> 2) How would you get them to work for YOU as
> employees for the rest of their lives,
> without ever thinking of leaving?

> 3) Now here's the kicker, how do you do it
> without the Use of Contracts? and Have them
> be very happy to do it?

> If you could please answer these questions
> and then I'll post my reply to your original
> post.

> Sincerely,

> Duane Adolph