INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE

Recruiting, developing and retaining talented staff

As exciting and rewarding as it is every issue to celebrate the changed lives of Lifeline graduates, we also rejoice in the success of Lifeline’s growing staff.

In three years, we have increased our staff from 13 to 42, including more licensed and credentialed professionals than ever before.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ashley Miller 2014 Graduate of Lifeline

Our recent licensure and accreditation prompted some of that growth. With more staff available, we have set out to make them the best-trained staff in recovery.

In the last two years, we have offered more hours in continuing education, prompted individuals to seek additional certifications and looked for ways to grow leaders among the staff. Six employees are currently enrolled in college to get their counseling credentials.

According to VERB, a people development platform that empowers staff learning and development, the five reasons to invest in employee development are:

1. Attract great employees.

2. Keep employees engaged.

3. Improve employee retention.

4. Create promotable employees and strengthen the internal talent pipeline.

5. Be ready for the future.

A recent LinkedIn report (2018 Workplace Learning Report) said 94 percent of employees would stay with their employer longer if it invested in their career. And yet the #1 reason they aren’t involved in learning is that they don’t have the time.

WE MAKE THE TIME.

An example is our new LUNCH for LEADERS quarterly series of leadership seminars for all staff. Each quarter, we meet at The Ranch for lunch with a business professional who offers tips for work/life balance, avoiding burnout and growing as a team. Our goal is to empower and educate all employees to help them reach their goals.

Many of our staff are former clients, who decide they want to stay here to help others fighting the same battles they once fought. Many of our leaders come from those very staff because they are committed to the mission and are developed through training.

When employees are engaged in our mission and with each other, they are more productive and satisfied on the job. And that translates into more effective guidance for our clients to help them be more successful in sobriety.

Ashley Miller, Executive Director