When it comes to finding and retaining new employees, we know this is a super competitive market right now.
I found an article in Contracting Business about a very simple thing that leaders can and should be doing to engage with their employees. The author of the article, Joe Dysart, suggests that we should be having "Stay Interviews" with our employees.
It's a simple concept that shows how just taking some time to talk to your employees -- even when it's busy (ESPECIALLY when it's busy) can give your employees an opportunity to talk about their experiences and ideas, and solicit feedback. Owners and managers should NOT be waiting until an annual or quarterly review to do this.
I especially loved the section where the author quoted Beverly Kaye, the co-author "Hello Stay Interviews, Goodbye Talent Loss": "Most employees who leave don't "start looking for other opportunities because of dissatisfaction with pay, perks or benefits." Instead, Kaye says employees are more likely to bolt if one of these key 'reasons to stay' are lacking:
- meaningful, challenging work
- a chance to learn and grow
- a good boss
- the sense of being a part of a team.
I would love to hear how you're engaging with your employees 1:1 beyond your annual reviews. Or - if you're an employee, tell us how your manager or owner has excelled in this area! Would love to hear your comments below!
