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• Dont Neglect the People that Support You Part 3

Dont Neglect the People that Support You Part 3

written on May 11, 2009 by Michele Ridella

This series of articles focuses on actions that you can take as a Leader to retain your best employees.  The job market is tight, but do not let that lull you into a false sense of security that your employees are not looking at other opportunities or planning an exodus once the market picks up.

The statistics that employers with job openings have given me are staggering with roughly 200 applicants per position within the first day of advertising and the number grows from there.  While most of the job seekers may be currently unemployed, some are not.  Many people continue to look for new opportunities, even in a down market.  Up to this point, we have focused on retention methods of recognition and providing challenging work assignments.  The third method is the opportunity to work with great people and to take that even further, "the opportunity to work with great people starts with You".  Yes, You - the Leader of the organization.  So what can you do to be a great person to work with?  Consider the following:

• Share information - the good, the bad and the ugly.  Call it transparency, call it candidness, call it whatever you want...the main thing is to do it.  Share information about the current state of the business and what is on the horizon for the future.  This goes a long way to build trust with your employees and to keep it going.
• Listen to what your people are saying.  The employee that finds a hole in that new business plan cares.  The employee that complains, sometimes behind closed doors and sometimes not, cares.  The employee that surfaces problems and seems to find an issue with just everything cares.  People would not voice their thoughts if they did not have a vested interest in the business.
• Stop overseeing every detail.  You hired good people, now let them do their job.  
• Lay out the "welcome mat" to your employees with an open door.  Be accessible, be available and be present in the conversation.  Put down the Blackberry, step away from the computer and give your employees your undivided attention for that moment in time.
• Bring out the creativity that lies within your people.  I have talked with leaders that are taking their company in a new direction with expanded services, new product offerings, etc.  Seek feedback, encourage discussions and allow the ideas to float upward.
• Move decision making down to the lowest level in the organization when possible.  Give people the autonomy to make decisions that impact their area of responsibility.  Hold them accountable, while giving them the opportunity to take control of their work.
• Have fun.  This has been said before and clearly is worth repeating.  Times are tough enough without a little levity.  Laughter helps to lighten the load!

You have enough on your plate to keep the business running.  Sorting through hundreds of resumes to replace a valuable employee should not be on your agenda.  Great places to work start with great people to work with - and that great person should be You.

 

The last article in this series will focus on: Providing Learning Opportunities.