29 Mar How to keep your best staff
Employee retention is important for any business, but some do seem to continually get it wrong. These tips below can help.
1. Listen to individual needs
Make time for one-on-one feedback with employees and listen to/act on individuals’ suggestions and concerns. You may feel it is time consuming, but it really works.
2. Work around company restrictions
Bureaucracy in large corporations can be a common reason for employees looking to move on. Most employees will understand the reasoning behind supposed ‘red tape’ but they may feel disgruntled if they’ve had no say in the decisions, processes or rules. It’s important to get the ‘buy-in’ of your top talent before establishing important protocols.
3. Offer career progression opportunities
Large companies can often mistakenly assume that a high salary and benefits package is enough to engage their best talent. Of course, monetary reward is important, but it’s not the only type of reward sought. Most employees will want to know there’s genuine opportunity for career progression and ongoing development in their role. Failure to provide a clear career path with the company can soon lead to disengagement.
4. Don’t ignore conflict
Conflict can sometimes go unnoticed and unaddressed in large organisations, simply because nobody realises it’s occurring. This could be conflict between colleagues, or an unsuccessful and unproductive relationship between a line manager and a team member. Conflict or an unsavoury atmosphere soon begins to chip away at morale and motivation. Listen to what is going on around you and keep an eye out for the signs – they are there for you to see, you just need to look for them.
5. Communicate the company vision
This sounds like an obvious point, but it’s so easily neglected. You would be amazed at the number of employees I have worked with who have no idea where the company is going. Employees want to feel excited and passionate about the business they work for and need to see a clear vision on the horizon.
6. Employ effective leadership
At every level, there needs to be robust leadership in place. A lack of strong, consistent management is a prevalent reason for an employee exodus.. Organisations must ensure that their employees are equipped with good leadership, inclusivity and communication skills – which may involve additional, ongoing training.