{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Serve Your Employees with Chris Free - MGW #2","description":"GUEST: Rapport Benefits Group Principal, Chris Free -- http:\/\/rapportbenefits.com\/   Chris Free on LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chris-free-b337714   A theme that runs through my conversation with Chris can be summed up with a Richard Branson quote: \u201cEmployees come first. If you take care of your employees, they\u2019ll take care of the clients.\u201d   Rapport Benefits Group keeps winning \u201cTop Place to Work\u201d awards because Chris and his business partners take this wisdom to heart, and they run their buiness in support of their employees. I\u2019ve talked to their employees. They love woking there. And the company keeps growing. Business is good.   Here are a few highlight points from our conversation.   Make sure employees are well respected and treated. Your employees are the face of your company. Take care of your employees and they will take care of your clients. Practice flexibility and compassion Time and space for the things that come up in life Look at output over time from a given employee. Some days are up, some are down. It\u2019s the aggregate that matters.   Longevity of employees leads to great client relationships   Loyal employees are engaged with their work. If your employee is worried about personal, at-home things, they\u2019re not productive. Let them address their life in the timing of life, and they\u2019ll produce.   Maslow\u2019s hierarchy of needs is often cited when looking at student productivity in school. It\u2019s just as relevant on the job. Basically, if you\u2019re hungry, or worried about your well being or that of your family, you\u2019re not going to be able to focus on matters higher up the hierarchy -- like writing a report or serving a client.   Chris told us, \u201cWe ask them about their goals. We help develop them to achieve their goals -- career and non-career goals.\u201d We want you to fulfill your life. As we do, you\u2019ll perform for our firm.   Create a place where people think, \u201cMaybe I don\u2019t want to get out of bed and go to work today, but what if I miss something cool?\u201d   You can foster great relationships with people whom you turn down for jobs -- by referring them to jobs that\u2019d be a better fit.   If you help people promote themselves out of your employ, you\u2019ll have a brand ambassador for life.   Don\u2019t create the environment for work that you\u2019ve been disappointed by in past workplaces. Set clear and accurate expectations.   Look for outcomes, not features.   How do you stand apart? Get out of the office. Get involved with people. Be in the community. Cultivate a qualitative over a quantitative focus.   Theme music by: Miguel Juarez Midshow break music by : Allan Loucks www.TinEar.com ","author_name":"Mighty Good Work","author_url":"http:\/\/theyesworks.com\/podcast","html":"