CallSource^® Aim Higher

Six Tips for Increasing Employee Retention

by Marci Brand, December 21 2010

It’s more important than ever to not only retain your current employees, but to also choose the right candidates when future employment decisions are being made. This doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and the investment is far less than the cost of high employee turnover. Below is some sound advice on how to increase retention and hire the right person for the position/s you hope to fill.

• Take the time to hire right. Too often we hire the first person who seems the closest to what we’re looking for rather than investing the time to find the right person for the job. While this process may fill an opening quickly, it can also lead to more turnovers down the road. By hiring the right candidate for an available position, you dramatically increase the likelihood of that person being happy during their tenure with your company.

• Communicate openly and frequently. Communication starts with the hiring process. When a candidate is hired, it’s important for them to understand the expectations and goals set forth for that position. But, communication should even go one-step further.  Keep employees abreast of all policy and company changes. It’s very demoralizing for an employee to hear company news through the grapevine. One of the top reasons people quit is that they feel they’re not an important part of the team. By communicating frequently with all team members, you will avoid the potential for someone to feel disconnected and left out-of-the-loop.

• Try to always include employees in the decision-making process. There is nothing more flattering than to be asked for your opinion. Often, employers fail to take advantage of their staff's expert knowledge. When you involve employees in the decision-making process, not only do they feel a sense of empowerment, but they’ll also be willing to invest more of themselves in the position.

• Have employees share their knowledge. When employees return from training, ask them to share what they’ve learned with the other team members. This helps the employee retain the knowledge they’ve learned while creating a culture that values teamwork and training.

• Practice good feedback. Performance feedback should not be limited to annual reviews. Most employees would rather receive more frequent feedback about their performance. Providing consistent feedback will also help keep performance levels high and reinforce good behavior. This does not have to be done in a scheduled or structured manner. Merely stopping by someone's workstation to tell them they are doing a great job does wonders for morale.

• Train EVERYONE. In business, we provide a lot of training. But we rarely provide adequate training for those who manage others. The old adage is true: You are only as good as your manager. Invest in training programs for those who manage others and watch employee retention rates grow.

Marci Brand is President of Creative Marketing Concepts, a firm that offers leasing and customer service training for management companies throughout the country.