Will Your Employees Stay?
It’s been a tough road for most organizations across Alberta, and communities all over North America. We have seen a deep recession with the oil industry, unrest from people’s perceptions of climate change, and now health scares. While there is deep unrest, people stay put. They know they need to hunker down and wait out the current situation until the tides turn.
But what is going to happen when things start to turn? People who have been unhappy with their employer will move, and your best people are the ones who have the most opportunity. (Of course, that means that your worst employees will probably stay just where they are!)
What are you doing as an employer? Have you just been beating on the “we have to do more with less” drum, or are you sowing the seeds to ensure when industries start to improve so your best people want to stay?
I have a lot of exposure to employees and I have heard lots of unrest and signs that people are just waiting for their chance to move.
So, what can you do to keep your best employees? One of the most important factors that play into an employee’s loyalty is the feeling of being valued, and that can look different from employee to employee. Here are some of the ways you can show someone you value them and their talents:
Provide feedback. Good or bad, people want to know how they are doing. It helps them understand their place in the organization and provides them with a roadmap to excel.
Talk about development. Have the conversation – where do they want to go? Map out a plan for them to get there. It will be up to them to do it – the determined will enthusiastically work to get there.
Ask their opinion. Your employees are the experts in doing everything in your organization, so get them to help in problem solving and planning. You never know what ideas they will come up. Even some of the smallest ideas can be some of the biggest solutions.
Ask how you can help. You work for your employees, not the other way around. One of your biggest jobs is to provide the tools your employees need and get out of the way. Find out what they need from you.
Be trustworthy. You can make people trust you, but you can set the stage for them to make the right choice. Say what you mean. Do what you say. Be consistent. Be transparent. There are lots of ways to show people they can trust you.
If you want your best employees to stay, sow the seeds now. Show them the loyalty they are looking for from an organization in order to gain it from them. And one more thing – start now! This is going to take time.