Human Resources

One of the best ways to grow your company is to grow your people--that is, increase their value and loyalty by guiding them along their own professional paths, says Genie Snyder, founder of Snyder Remarks ETC, a business consulting and organizational training firm in Athens, Georgia. Ways to do that include:

*Creating position summaries and descriptions for each job.Include both the tasks and skills the job requires, along with the necessary personal characteristics (such as working without supervision or the ability to make decisions quickly).

• Developing a strategy for each employee to reach his or her goals.Have employees work with their supervisors to map out what they need to do, such as taking classes or reading certain materials, to get where they want to go. Although you'll be supportive, be clear that individuals are responsible for implementing their own strategies.

• Establishing internal internships and mentoring programs.Encourage senior staffers to spend time with junior personnel so everyone will have a better understanding of the overall operation and how all the jobs connect. This will also help people to learn about positions they may eventually hold.

Jacquelyn Lynn left the corporate world more than 12 years ago and has been writing about business and management from her home office in Winter Park, Florida, ever since.

This article was originally published in the August 1999 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Human Resources.