At Alternative HR, we partner with many small employers, typically ranging from just a few employees to several dozen. What we often see is that HR strategy and structure naturally take a back seat while leaders focus on daily operations and growth.

Over time, though, the absence of a clear and intentional HR framework can contribute to challenges with morale, productivity, retention, and even overall business performance. Our role is to help organizations put the right practices in place so their teams and businesses can thrive.

Based on our experience, here are 5 HR strategies that can make a powerful, positive impact on your organization:

1.Identify the CULTURE, or work environment, you want to create

A key question we ask clients is this: Is the culture you have, the culture you want? If it is, let’s reinforce it. If it’s not, let’s identify changes we need to make.

Culture is a difficult recipe to perfect. It includes your mission, vision and values. It includes the leadership style you and your team practice. It includes your internal communications and your operational processes and practices. It includes your people and how they interact.

Those ingredients, and others, create your work environment, and the reputation you have earned.

What is your culture goal, and what is your culture strategy?

2.Envision the TALENT/TEAM you want to assemble

Even as a small organization, in today’s market, you better have a strategy and a plan for finding talent, for hiring and bringing them on board, for growing and nurturing them, and for getting them and keeping them engaged in your business.

For most businesses, hiring is a reactionary event. You have a need – frequently a sudden need – to fill a position, so you jump into action. Instead, this ought to be part of a planned strategy, determined well before the need arises.

Are you really planning for the next people on your team, or are you reacting to the most recent termination?

3.Establish a COMPENSATION & BENEFITS philosophy

Your comp and benefits