Mike Yoder, CEO of Servant HR, understands that great people are the key to a successful business. His favorite part of working at Servant HR is helping to develop real relationships between the employees and management of his client companies. He appreciates the opportunity to get to know each of his clients, so he was happy to sit down for a Q&A so that you can learn more about him.
How has your previous work influenced your work at Servant HR?
“My work in the legal field was in the area of labor and employment relations law. How do you develop employees? How do you grow employees? How do you discipline employees? How do you terminate employees? And it was a great experience. But I realized from that, as opposed to dealing with employee issues after somebody has sued you or raised a complaint, I preferred coaching and counseling where I could get on the front end of it. I love being able to coach managers, coach business owners to try and avoid those problems by making their company a good, fair and safe place to work.”
What is one thing that you wish everyone understood about human resources?
“It is viewing employees as your most important resource over equipment, over technology, over anything. One of the biggest things an employer can do is seek to grow and develop his employees. If I develop an employee, rather than discipline them and fire them, I am making progress, rather than this constant churning and turnover that occur.”
What career could you see yourself in, if you did not work at Servant HR?
“Probably teaching, whether a college professor in history or in human resources.”
That’s funny; you would teach human resources if you didn’t work in it?
“Well, I think there are aspects of teaching that are as rewarding as what I do now, but I would want to teach something I am good at.”
What was your favorite part of the holiday and what do you have planned for the New Year?
“Actually over Christmas, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. So my whole family headed off to take a vacation together to celebrate their 50 years together. My eldest son now has his driver’s license and my middle is a competitive gymnast, so we tend to follow him around the country to watch him compete. And I have a 7-year-old daughter who controls the house. So anything we can do to just spend time as a family is a blessing.”
Mike is clearly eager to assist your company with all of its HR needs. To reach him or the rest of the team at Servant HR, please call 317-585-1688.