Sep 29, 2004 By Reprinted From Valuablecontent.Com 4 min read

As a business leader, you are probably already aware that your staff’s performance can make or break the success of your business.  However, developing a positive workforce is much easier said than done.  The following tips will help you develop a great, hard-working staff that works with you to grow your business.

1. Plan your workforce.

What kind of workforce do you want to have one month from today, three months from now, six months, or twelve months down the road?  How many people do you want to have working for you, in what positions, at what work performance levels, with what attitudes, and aptitudes?  List these specific criteria, along with a plan of how you are going to go about building this workforce.

2. Pull out the weeds.

If you have one or more employees walking around with a terrible attitude, no matter how adept they are at what they do, they are bound to be muddying the waters for everyone around them.  This negative energy drains everyone and in the long run, hurts the business.  If they are unwilling to change their attitude, get rid of them and you will see an immediate improvement in morale, performance, and profits.

3. Teach your staff to see problems as exciting opportunities for improvement.

Every organization has problems.  The key is to notice the problems, and then focus on the possible solutions to these problems.  Then, team up to implement innovative solutions that actually improve the business’ daily systems.

4. Practice and expect open and honest communication.

As a business leader, you are the one who will be setting the example of how your entire department or business communicates.  Communicate openly, honestly, clearly, and with the commitment to address what will ultimately be for the greater good of your business and all involved.

5. Focus on the positive.

Whatever you focus on is what you are in the process of creating.  Focus on the negative and guess what?  You’ve got it – more negative!  Focus on each staff member’s positive qualities and put the perspective employees in the position that utilizes and maximizes his or her strengths.  The more you focus on your staff members’ positive qualities, the greater their morale and performance will be.

6. Promote teamwork.

You might notice that the Lone Ranger is no longer a big television hit.  That’s because studies are indicating that groups of people working together synergistically produce significantly greater results than people working independently of each other.  Create your team around you.  Enroll them into your business vision and go out there and win this game!

7. Institute and uphold employee responsibilities, guidelines, and company policies.

Provide each of your staff members with an employee handbook and appropriate paperwork that clearly delineates their daily responsibilities, your company’s policies, and any applicable local, city or state guidelines that affect them.  Go over these policies with them, answering any of their questions, and have them sign that they have read and understand this paperwork.  This educates new staff members of their rights and what is expected of them.  It also serves as a cover to your backside, should any unfortunate disputes arise.

8. Be a positive role model.

If you desire to retain a staff of passionate, intelligent, go-getters who are committed to continuing to find creative ways to improve their performance, guess who gets to be their example or role model?  That’s right – You!  Lead the way by being the positive role model they would be proud to evolve into some day.

9. Only hire people who are excited about life.

It’s much easier to train and elicit greatness from someone who is already excited about life, than it is to attempt to inspire someone whose baseline is neutral, bored or unmotivated.  People who are excited about life smile often, have a lot of energy, have personal aspirations and are eager to learn and grow as individuals.  These people are also a JOY to work with.

10. Have regular inspirational meetings.

Even the most dynamic people lose their focus and forget their goals when they are exposed to lengthy stressful periods.  Keep their energy up and their juices flowing by running regular meetings, wherein everyone understands his role and has the opportunity to be positive contributor.  Keep these meetings positive, high energy and action-oriented.

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As a Mind Power Leadership coach, trainer, and speaker, Ronya Banks has been teaching others how to become leaders and business owners since 1992. Frequently featured in radio, magazine and newspaper articles and interviews, Ronya helps people find the great leaders within by accessing the natural power of their minds. Discover more of Ronya’s proven leadership success secrets at: www.livinginaction.com or subscribe to her ezine newsletter at:  http://www.livinginaction.com/newsletter.cfm.