I'm Outta Here!

We've all felt under appreciated, overworked or unrecognized for our work. But, what is the impact on a small practice? One of my colleagues learned the hard way. For more than 10 years, a dedicated employee had worked within the practice for a salary and a medical allowance. The firm owner's perspective was, "I'm giving her a job."

Much has changed since 2009. The economy is slowly recovering, and employees have options. But the real issue is this: as practices, we don't sell or make widgets. We sell ideas. As a result, it is necessary to invest in the intellectual capital that truly is the product of the design and construction industry.

When this dedicated employee gave notice, the response was, "I wish you had come to me before [now]!" But, the truth was, she had. She had made it clear that while she enjoyed her job and the projects she worked on, the promise of benefits or leadership roles no longer "paid the bills." The road to quitting is often marked with signs owners elect to ignore. Grumbling about working overtime, not being recognized or even thanked can lead to a final exit.

No one should put up with a bad employee. Conversely, no one should take advantage of a good one. Aside from the obvious problems of trying to find another dedicated, trusted, hardworking architect, there are more subtle impacts on the firm's morale and its standing in the industry, a loss of efficiency and an exodus that may follow as others sense greener pastures elsewhere.

As a small firm owner, listen to your staff. Understand their pain points and frustrations. You may not be able to afford full benefits, but figure out what tradeoffs you are willing and able to make. Days off? Flex time? How about even a simple thank you? What was sad in all of this, is when I stopped to figure out what this employee wanted. It was a small price to pay for ten years of trusted service, and the potential for many more years of contributions to the firm.

Karen Compton, CPSM. Karen Compton is principal of A3K Consulting (Glendale, CA), a business development and strategic planning firm specializing in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. Ms. Compton is also the founder of Industry Speaks™, a web-based business-to-business portal that connects AEC firms with experienced consultants, provides peer reviews of consultants, reports on key industry trends, and publishes expert reviews of professional courses and books. Contact her at kcompton@a3kconsulting.com.