The Secret to Holding On To Your Top Talent?

Our world is quickly changing with millennial adults (born between 1980-2000) streaming into the work force. They are changing the landscape of business, with their own vision of leadership. Their lives have been greatly influenced by team sports, and technology. They have grown up with a device in their hands keeping them connected non-stop and that will carry over into their work life. They are team oriented (a big plus) and tend to look for leaders who want to partner with them for success. Believe me they won't be following you because of your title. How will you hold on to your top talent, when they have no qualms about moving from job to job until they find what they are looking for. I am sure you are well aware of the negative impacts of that lose from the financial aspects to the front-line morale, unbalanced workloads, vacations become nightmares for those who are left in the office, you will go through the training process over and over again, and never gain momentum. There is nothing more disheartening than to feel like you are just spinning your wheels never getting ahead.

The secret to holding on to your top talent . . . simply put, invest your time in developing positive relationships. You'll want to focus on a few key areas:

• #1 Developing your interpersonal skills.
• #2 Regularly scheduling time to meet with your direct reports. Get to know them, who they call family, what motivates and energizes them?; what are their strengths?; what is going well?; what are the challenges?; what support do they need from you as the leader?
• #3 Looking past quirky behavior to appreciate all of what a person has to offer? When you value and appreciate the whole person, your attitude towards them changes.
  

The payoffs for developing relationships will be well worth your effort. You will notice higher productivity, an increase in collaboration, morale, even engagement and the cherry on top . . . your leadership begins to take root.  As John Maxwell puts it in his book The Five Levels of Leadership, "Good leaders stop bossing people around and start encouraging them. That is the secret to being a people-oriented leader, because much of leadership is encouragement."  Who wouldn't want more of that in life?

Are you up for a challenge this week?

1. How might you get to know your team of direct reports a little better this week?
2. As you observe them this week, what is one thing you personally noticed about their skills, abilities, or behavior that you appreciate about them and then . . . let them know. To be effective you must be as specific as you can with the details where, when, who was present. This helps you to reinforce positive behaviors. It not only guides them to repeating that behavior it shows them you notice and appreciate their effort (recognition).

Side note: This is where you want to be very genuine in your recognition, that is why I used the word appreciate it will come across much more sincerely and have greater impact.

Karen Wise
Helping New Managers
Increase Their Productivity

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