Think of it as the golden rule of business: be good to your employees and they’ll be good to you – and to your organization.
Unfortunately many companies fail to understand what it really means to truly develop talent. And it’s not for lack of trying. In fact, it’s customary to see a company rolling out the red carpet to attract their field’s best and brightest.
Yet what many businesses fail to realize is that theirs is a revolving door. Once you’ve hired someone great, it’s just as easy for him or her to walk right back out again. Hiring someone isn’t the end goal; it’s just the beginning.
In other words, if you want to be a leader who leads great people, you have to get serious not just about attracting great talent, but about keeping it.
One of the most common reasons employees choose to leave a company is poor management. Good leadership is crucial to keeping employees satisfied. And these days, employee satisfaction is about much more than a paycheck. The most sought-after employees demand a workplace where they are engaged and are led by someone who values their contribution.
Six Ways to Create Employee Engagement:
Value: employees need to know that you recognize the good work they’re doing—and that they’re important to the company
Direction: when employees are brought into the company’s larger plan for the future, they feel like they’re a part of something bigger.
Recognition: one of the easiest things a manager can do is to recognize employee’s contributions. You may know they work hard, but do they know you know?
Care: Without a doubt, your people are the great asset your organization will ever have. Treat them accordingly.
Decision: Including employees in the company’s decisions will not only include them in your organization’s vision, it’ll bring fresh ideas to the table.
Trust: Show your employees that you can be counted on to follow through with your commitments, and then trust them to do the same.
It’s a common saying, but it’s true: your employees are, by far, your greatest asset. Keep your employees engaged, and they’ll provide the energy and ideas to keep your company going long into the future.
As a leader, culture is your responsibility. And don’t count yourself out if you’re not the CEO or the president – any manager or team leader can wield tremendous influence over the work culture around them.
