Treat Your Employees Like a Muscle Car

You probably know someone who owns or has owned a muscle car. Maybe you’ve had one yourself–that super-cool Shelby Mustang that roars like a lion or the Corvette that takes off like a cheetah.

These are the cars that owners don’t leave out in the rain. They treat them like members of the family. And they give them all the attention they need to keep getting the high performance they expect. It only makes sense; if you want something to perform efficiently, you must give it the proper care.

Your employees are a lot like that muscle car. Their performance is a direct result of the care you give them. Just like a well-tuned engine responds to the accelerator, a happy employee acts to make positive contributions to your company.

Here are a few suggestions for giving your workers the “maintenance” they require:

Stay in touch

If your muscle car developed a misfiring spark plug, you would quickly react with a tune-up. Similarly, when you notice one of your employees is unhappy, respond immediately. If your managers hold regular one-on-one meetings with each team member, they will keep the lines of communication open and catch potential issues early on.

Invest in them

You wouldn’t hesitate to spend money on your muscle car to keep it performing at its peak. Why would you not do the same for good workers? Even though money is not the primary motivator of employees, it can turn into an issue if one of your competitors is offering more than you are or if you have not kept up with inflation with annual increases. Make money a non-issue by paying well enough so they will not be tempted by other offers. Think of it as an investment in high performance.

Create and maintain a dynamic company culture

Give your employees the same TLC you would give your prized car—or your best customer—and you will have a company culture that consists of highly productive, fiercely loyal and mostly happy workers who will contribute to your firm’s goals and increase your bottom line. Businesses that have achieved a positive culture can attract and retain the best talent—simply by treating their people as something to be valued.

Add the best talent to your team

Convincing today’s top candidates your company is their best choice is more critical than ever. A culture of fun, fitness, and altruism will go a long way to setting you apart. Stride Staffing’s goal is to build stronger connections between employers and individuals by doing staffing differently. Really. Contact us today  and request a consultation.

Giving Back: North Texas Food Bank

Employee Work Day at North Texas Food Bank!

February, 2017

Here are some fun pictures from our Employee Work Day at the North Texas Food Bank. Stride raised over 3600 lbs of food from the generous donation of Stride, Stride’s clients and internal employees. Then we spent a half day volunteering by sorting other donations and helping with the distribution of donated food.

Stay Fit! Good Health Can Benefit You and Your Job

We all know we should be exercising and eating right, but it’s often easier to head straight home after work rather than hitting the gym. And, stopping for fast food along the way will save the time and energy required for a healthful meal.

Now, here’s one more item to put on the list of benefits that are derived from staying fit and eating right—it can make you more productive both at home and at work. And if you’re wondering if you must train for a half-marathon to get those benefits, you can relax. You‘ll need to do activities that raise your heart rate, but you won’t have to do any ten-mile runs.

As for eating right, there are many eating plans similar to the Paleo Diet that will set you on the path to good health, especially when they are combined with eight hours of sleep and a commitment to exercise.

Here’s how it can help you and your career.

Exercise can grow your brain

Exercise uses more brain cells than many other activities, and new research has discovered that we can foster the growth of new brain cells during exercise. In other words, the more you use it, the more it grows. So, when you exercise, you’re giving your brain a workout along with your body.

 A good diet helps you to think clearly

If you are skipping meals or eating the wrong foods, you might find it difficult to do your job properly. That’s because the lack of regular healthy meals can be a substantial drain on your brain, making it hard for you to concentrate without becoming distracted. If you deprive your brain of blood glucose and protein by not eating the right foods, you will lose your energy and your ability to think clearly.

Exercise improves your attitude

People who exercise tend to have a positive attitude in all aspects of their lives. Working out gives them a feeling of well-being that translates into higher productivity. They respond energetically to issues as they come up, looking for solutions and coming up with ideas to efficiently complete their tasks. Exercise can also be a powerful antidote to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress.

Being fit can eliminate mental sluggishness

Want to be sharper at work? Get into the habit of exercising. People who exercise regularly are more alert because it has been shown to increase the amount of space in your brain to think about things. So, the next time you’re thinking about skipping a scheduled workout, remember that it can help you think on your feet during your next presentation or help you pay attention during someone else’s boring one.

Are you looking for a new job?

Stride Staffing can help you find a great job.  We work with great companies who are looking to bring awesome people onto their team. Search for a job or contact us to learn more!