Focus On Employee Retention
All HR departments should have a strong focus on employee retention.
Many workers today are searching for new job opportunities on a regular basis – either actively searching or open to new opportunities. Some workers are even search for those new opportunities while at work. Every employee is an investment that has to be cherished and nurtured. This is about more than just making sure they have job satisfaction. Rather, they have to know that they are valued; feel like they are being invested in and they should be given opportunities to grow within a company, rather than feeling like they have to look elsewhere. Let’s review a number of important things to take into consideration to help you increase your level of employee retention.
Clear Expectations
The first thing is that there should be clear and consistent expectations.
“Changing expectations keep people on edge and create unhealthy stress.”
Top 10 Ways to Retain Your Great Employees
When the goalpost is moved again and again, people feel insecure in their jobs. They will feel like their efforts are never good enough and that they will always fail at anything that they try, worrying that this will eventually cost them their job. As a result, they will always keep their eye on the door, searching for better opportunities. Setting up clear expectations can easily be achieved by writing departmental strategies that everybody can follow.
Excellent Communication
Another absolute key factor is that everybody, leaders and managers in particular, should be excellent communicators.
“A large percentage of the meaning we derive from communication (some studies suggest over 90%) is derived from the non-verbal cues the other person gives.” The 6 Steps For Retaining Good Employees
This means that communication is more about tone than about words, which is why there is very little difference between communicating face to face or virtually. It is important to communicate appropriately, because it means people know what is expected of them and whether or not they are doing their job properly. It also means listening to what others have to say, and keeping an open door policy wherever possible.
Find a Growth Path
Nobody truly wants to do the same job for the rest of their lives. They are always on the lookout for growth and will grab an opportunity when it is presented to them. In most cases, these opportunities happen to be with another company. This is why it is so important that you have your own growth plans in place, so that every employee knows where they can go in the foreseeable future.
“It’s your job to understand the career path for all your key employees. And do whatever you can, within the boundaries of reality, to help them achieve it.” Before It’s Too Late: 5 Steps to Keep Your Best Employees
It is doing this that shows your employees how valued they are. If they see that you are willing to invest in them, be that in terms of money or in terms of time, they will be appreciative of it. It will also allow them to see where they are going, meaning they will be less likely to start looking elsewhere for that growth.
Have Some Surprises
It has been found again and again that those companies that regularly offer rewards for their employees are the most successful.
“Surprise employees that go the extra mile with bonuses, random days off, or excursions – nice surprises for doing the right thing.” 10 Ways To Retain Your Best Employees
It is very important, however, to make sure you don’t turn this into some sort of competition. Employees need to work at making themselves the best they can, rather than trying to be better than someone else. This is why it is better to offer an unplanned half day off for an employee here and there than to have a scheduled employee of the month presentation once a month. It is about appreciating the work someone has done as and when they do it, rather than once it is convenient.
About Steve Giles
Co-owner/Co-founder of Intesi! Resources. Educated as an architect I transitioned to technology during my career in architecture. Intesi! Resources was founded in 2004 and my focus is everything Web/eCommerce related from the design and development of our site to all the marketing activities involved. I also provide significant support for our clients on all our products and how they are used to deliver assessment-driven learning solutions that develop self-awareness and interpersonal skills.
