There are three main reasons why staff don’t stay in a business…
The first is to do with not actually having the right person doing the role that needs doing. This normally comes down to the recruitment process where the job either wasn’t properly defined, or the criteria weren’t properly set, or the person being recruited wasn’t properly interviewed.
The second issue is to do with reward. Are you paying them enough? This may involve looking at base salary as well as bonuses, commission and other benefits. It may be to do with the rate for the job or it may be based on the employee’s experience. Employees may also take their working hours and environment into consideration when looking at their satisfaction with a job and / or a company.
The final main reason people don’t stay in a business is due to the way in which they are managed. One of the biggest reasons that people leave organisations is because they don’t feel valued by the organisation. Though often, it comes down to the fact that they don’t feel valued by their manager. As a manager / business owner, you have a massive role to play in the retention of your staff. They’re not there to be abused, bullied or harassed. They need to be respected and they need to be engaged with the organisation. They need to understand clearly what’s expected of them and what they get in return.
How do I get my employees to understand?
Smart objectives are a great way of making sure that people understand what is expected of them and that they are properly managed. Smart Objectives are Specific, Measurable, Relevant, Achievable and have Timescales. There’s no point giving somebody two, three, or four people’s jobs that they are not qualified or experienced enough to do. They’re just going to fail – big time – and your business will suffer.
Making sure that your staff feel valued, that they have the opportunity to develop new skills and that they feel able and encouraged to discuss and debate ideas is essential. What your business needs is to have a workforce that is steady, that understands your policies and processes, understands what it is that you’re trying to achieve and are motivated to work with you as you drive your business forward to achieve the company’s vision.
