Welcome to the next Tip of the Month. This is where I address common questions and concerns regarding our industry, specifically in the hiring, training and management of your people! Today's topic, tools you can use to help in finding 'em, training 'em and keeping 'em. (The 3 'Ems)

Here are our tools, provided in the order they should be used:

Selection is one of the hardest areas to master. This is because everyone, from the lower desk to the upper management candidates, all wear a mask that hides their true profile. Many of our clients have been with us for over twenty years, now, discovering that the PEAC SYSTEM� does a great job in getting behind the mask and providing a heads up as to what you may really be hiring. And we won't tell you not to hire, only give you the warning about time and money that you may have to invest to make that person successful. Backing that, of course, the PEACSCORE� a data base numeric score for each profile, and our appropriate advice on low or high scores.

The PEAC SYSTEM�  Read. Every profile you run comes with a consulting session with an experienced, well trained Reader. The information is invaluable, as it points out problem areas, those that can cost you money, as well as the possibilities based on the combined profile characteristics. Sometimes, what seems, at first glance, a poor profile, may have underlying traits that can bring the level of success much higher.

And then, with the successful first twelve runs of our new Online Live Training�, those three day courses I have run for thirty years are now available in five two hour classes, much refined and more intense to focus on Recruiting, Marketing, and Closing. Though each is available in segments, it is far less of an investment to pick up the entire package in a one time fee, which includes all manuals, script books and forms. You can run the training in any sequence, though, as with most of my previous clients, I want to let new consultants practice their skills on candidates, where the mistakes won't hurt you and your company so much. Then on to Marketing, and when ready, on to the final closing. After all, if the first two are not done well, there will be little closing at all, right? You can learn more on our Online Training site.

Finally, I offer Consulting Sessions�, one hour discussions with management of any level, to help discover the strengths and weaknesses in the above, as used in your divisions. Sometimes, an outside opinion can make a big difference.

Some of these items discussed in these Tip of the Month series are found in two of our booklets, The Three 'Em's, Finding, Training and Keeping 'em, and for the first level supervisor, The Mentor Manual- a valid discussion on how to train up an individual under them. Email  or call me for further information.

That about covers it. The market is confusing, but I have a nearly sixty forty split in productivity reports out there. Sixty percent are on that first wave and still holding in well, while the other forty percent are still trying to regain their balance. Lets cross the fingers for another big wave this year, before the gloom and doom people have their way!! Happy Hunting!