Being the CEO of any business enterprise usually requires you to wear lots of different hats — one minute you are in charge of marketing, followed by accounting, and then customer service after lunch. However, the role that most entrepreneurs tend to struggle with above all others is hiring. The hiring process can be tedious and time-consuming, so once you have found the right person for the job it is imperative that you can retain their services for as long as possible. Of course, when you are trying to run a business, this is often easier said than done. Luckily, Victor Mitchell has listed some things that you can do to incentivize your best employees to stick around, such as:
Recognition:
As an entrepreneur, it is extremely easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the average work week. Before you know it, you have made it all the way to Friday, and you have barely spoken to your employees at all during the week. However, if you want to retain your best employees, you need to make a conscious effort to take some time out of your day to speak with them and let them know that they are doing a good job. A simple pat on the back can go a long way. You can even arrange a larger quarterly or annual awards ceremony where you hand out some certificates or trophies for added recognition.
Compensation:
Though employees and employers alike often try to ignore the issue, money is always going to be one of the main reasons why a person might decide to join or leave a company. This does not mean that you need to pay your employees way over market value to retain them, but it does mean that you should at least make sure that they are receiving a fair compensation package relative to the work they are doing. Markets shift and employees learn new skills, so make sure that their compensation package reflects their real value or they may begin to look elsewhere.
Flexibility:
For many skilled positions, it isn’t necessary for the employee to be sitting at their desk in the office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As such, your employees are likely to be appreciative of a little flexibility when it comes to their work schedule. You could allow them to work from home occasionally, or will enable them to create their work schedule (within set parameters). Your employees are likely to find it difficult to replicate this kind of flexibility at another workplace, so they will be much more likely to want to stay in their current jobs instead.
Of course, it is important to remember that employee retention is an art, not a science. This means that you will ideally take the time to get to know the specific needs and desires of your employees before launching any retention initiatives. After all, there is little point in offering a raise to an employee who wants to be able to work from home more often. However, by speaking to your employees about their preferences and employing some of the tips contained in this article, you will find that your best employees are much happier and willing to stick around for much longer.
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