Although certain types of employee development require a financial investment (e.g., seminars, professional memberships, subscriptions), the best return is generated from an investment of your time and energy. 

When employees know you have a vested interest in their success, tough discussions become easier, issues are addressed rather than avoided and solutions are presented by rather than prodded from employees.

Cheryl Johnson is Chief Human Resources Officer for ECHO Global Logistics and has been a client at two different companies, Fossil and ULTA Beauty.  During one of our original discussions years ago, we talked about how creating a compelling purpose can ignite a personal passion to go the extra mile. Cheryl was reflecting on one of her first jobs as a dishwasher in a hospital. Interestingly, she didn’t see her job as that of only a dishwasher.

For years, Julie and I had a date night each Wednesday night while our children were young.   We would often go to dinner at a local TexMex restaurant.  An experience during one of our visits helped me see the direct, positive business impact of passionately performing employees. 

An energetic waiter came charging up to our table with a big "Hello!"  He proceeded to describe an appetizer option in great detail, with great enthusiasm and at great speed!  So, read this next sentence three times faster than usual. 

He exclaimed...