People First

Invest in team-building activities to help improve relationships and build a sense of camaraderie. This can include social events, team-building exercises, or off-site retreats. I remember my first job, we had a company picnic where management played operations in a softball game. That was the talk of the town for weeks after the picnic. Now...

Seek outside help if necessary. If the dysfunction is particularly severe or persistent, consider seeking outside help from a consultant or professional mediator. They can provide an objective perspective and help facilitate productive conversations.

Start by identifying the root cause of the dysfunction. This may be due to poor communication, conflicting personalities, a lack of clarity around roles and responsibilities, or other factors. Next, do something about it. Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, is a great place to start. Check it out.

There are many ways you can save on employee benefits. Offer flexible benefits options, such as a choice of health plans, or flexible spending or health savings accounts, or some ways. This allows employees to tailor their benefits package to their individual needs.

ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA. What do they all mean? These are all employment laws. Do you know which ones you must comply with? It’s critical to develop a compliance strategy to ensure that you’re meeting all legal requirements related to benefits administration. Having an HR professional on your team would be a great help and...

Educate employees on wellness initiatives, promote wellness initiatives, and educate employees on how to improve their health and well-being. This may include offering fitness classes, providing healthy snacks, or offering mental health resources. I’ve seen employers offer programs like Jazzercise, Weight Watchers, First Aid Training, and Smoking Cessation, to name a few.

Regularly review and update your benefits package to ensure that it remains competitive and meets the evolving needs of your employees. This may include adding new benefits or adjusting existing ones. Having an expert insurance agent on your team is key.

Develop a comprehensive benefits package that meets the needs of your employees and is competitive with other employers in your industry. This may include health insurance, dental and vision coverage, retirement plans, and more. You want to work with an experienced agent who can work with you to obtain the best benefits that you can...

Clear communication is essential for an effective, successful business. How many times have you heard an employee state something that is not true because the rumor mill has gone rampant with transparent and open communication? You can eliminate the rumors which can be damaging to your business.

Review financial reports regularly to track business performance, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about future investments and growth. I recommend reviewing your financials on a monthly basis. I also recommend having another set of eyes review those financials. They may see trends that you are too close to your business to see.