Rent One boss, Galatia native, discusses corporate philosophy at Chamber lunch
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The president of Rent One - a Galatia High School graduate - talked about his company's organizational philosophy at a recent Saline County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Trent Agin, a 1986 GHS graduate, was hired in 1988 by Rent One as an account manager at the Parker Plaza location. Agin said he was "engaged by his employers" and really liked the organization. He rose up through the ranks, worked at several locations and became a store manager. From there, he moved into other management positions and eventually became president, Agin said.
In 1985, there were only two Rent One locations; now there are 50 stores in 10 states, Agin said. Store locations operate as "silos" under the local manager. Managers try to keep consistent results throughout all the Rent One stores. The model works best with a good, engaged work force. A recent Harvard Business Review study indicated 60 percent of customers leave and do business elsewhere because of an attitude of indifference by employees. That couples with another phenomenon Agin has seen - the attitudes of so-called Generation Y, the current group of younger adults in the work force.
"They're not bad people, they're just quirky," Agin said.
About 60 percent of Generation Y workers are looking for another job; 57 percent of those are actually happy where they are, but are constantly looking for greener pastures, Agin said.
Keeping Generation Y, and other workers, engaged on the job involves setting clear expectations, seeking commitment to the job and showing why it is important certain tasks get done at certain times, in a particular order.
Coaching and reinforcing employees is extremely important.
"Let them know what you expect," Agin said.
But, Agin said, it's not all about setting goals and keeping an eye on everyone. Encouraging employees is equally important.
"And most of the time it's free," Agin said.
"We do a number of things in our organization to encourage people and let them know what they are doing right," Agin said.
Compliments and positive feedback should be given as easily as criticism, Agin said.