By Juanita Polegi, ACE, Executive Director of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce
The primary purpose of most chambers of commerce is to advocate for their members. Secondary purposes are to provide opportunities for members to link with one another and to provide learning events.
This spring, the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce offered two events which brought together members and provided some sound locally grown advice. The first was a luncheon where a panel of two business people and an accountant shared their experiences and knowledge about business succession planning.
Key take-aways from the event include:
- It’s never too early to think about what will happen to your business when you wish to leave it;
- Get your books in order. Do what you can to make your business appealing;
- Consult professionals to help you with your planning. Financial planners, accountants, lawyers, and insurance brokers will provide you with helpful insights;
- Be flexible; and
- Each succession plan will be unique.
Next was the chamber’s Business Forum which focused on attracting, retaining, and keeping employees happy. Tamara Johnson, CEO of SIEL Human Solutions, was the keynote speaker. With her more than 20 years of experience as an HR consultant and business coach, Johnson has seen first-hand what works and what doesn’t.
Johnson began her presentation by asking the forum attendees if they knew their organization’s culture. She suggested that once you understand your culture, then you will have more success in finding people who will be happy employees.
Key points included:
- Use a variety of social media platforms to attract potential employees.
- Get to know your employees right from day one. Engage with them and show they are valued.
- Most employees want to know where the organization is going and how they can contribute.
- Different people appreciate different forms of recognition.
Parkland College offers to employers the Business Strategy Internship program funded by Mitacs. Gwen Machnee, the research lead at the college explained how the program works.
- If a business can identify a project that is novel/innovative for the business, they could qualify to get help from some outstanding students through a four-month internship.
- The cost to the business? Only $7,500. College staff will help the business develop and submit the proposal; handle the administration of the grant; contract and pay the student; and provide an experienced job coach to work with the student and the supervisor at the business to meet the project objectives.
A former intern shared her experiences working for a business. One of the senior managers of that business then shared how they prepared for an intern and how they set goals and expectations for the intern. When the internship finished, the business hired the intern as a full-time employee. A win-win for both the intern and the employer!
The day concluded with a panel discussion featuring six local business people. Gems from these experienced employers included:
- Attracting is more difficult than retaining
- Retaining is more difficult than attracting
- Adopt GTHOTO (Get the hell out of the office) – and engage with your employees on a regular basis
- Happy employees = Brand ambassadors
- Provide incentives
- Reach out to summer students and train them
- Be flexible – recognize that employees have lives and sometimes need to have time for their families or themselves
- Have fun. Be spontaneous – surprise them with unexpected treats such as ice cream on a hot day
- If you look after your staff, your staff will look after your customers. And the customers will keep coming back
The local speakers at both events were well received by the attendees. This shows that experts are your next-door neighbour.
