Cover Story
The Yoh file
Smart Business Philadelphia | January 2008
History: President and CEO of Yoh Services LLC since 2003. Grandson of Harold Yoh
Sr., who founded Yoh Services in 1940.
Education: Bachelor of arts, Duke University; MBA, Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania
Yoh on motivating employees: If people can’t motivate themselves, it’s going to be
very difficult for someone else to motivate them. But through the interviewing process
and the initial employment phase, you can see how motivated they are. Are they showing up to work early, are they leaving late, are they asking questions, are they open to
feedback and criticism? But the flip side of that is people might not have previously
worked in a place where spreading the vision and strategy is key. It could be that they’re
not accustomed to being in a place where they’re offered the opportunity to participate
in that. So there are times when you can draw that out of people, but first and foremost,
you have to start with the fire within.
Yoh on understanding the vision: You do want everyone to have that common
understanding of the vision. From the first time you talk to them, you want to be very
clear on what it’s like to work here, what the expectations are, so there are no surprises. But the second part is that you’re really putting a puzzle together, and everybody has
to understand what their piece of the puzzle is. How what they do on a daily basis
impacts the whole, whether they are a salesperson, a recruiter, a manager, in an administrative role. Letting people know where they fit in the universe is a very important way
to keep them motivated.
Yoh on telling stories: People can identify with stories. From the time you are a
young child, you are read stories at home, you’re telling stories around the campfire.
Stories have a way of identifying and personalizing ideas, as opposed to a textbook
‘here’s how’ message. It brings it to life and gives it color. Storytelling is a very important way to get your message and vision across.
