by Amon Karagara

Created on: July 13, 2010   Last Updated: July 15, 2010

Having a team with good staff is vital to business success. That’s why prospective employers strive to hire who they consider the best. As much as it is important to hire great employees, it is even more important to retain them. So, management should work towards retaining their good staff, by doing the following:

RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THEM. Employees do not want to be taken for granted or undervalued. Always show them that you appreciate their contribution to the success of the business or organization. And when they do a great job, recognize them in a way that will make them feel special. 

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT. Help your employees develop their skills and potential, as well as promotions and chances to move to other positions within your organization or business. Some employees get tired of being in the same position for a long time and they begin looking for other opportunities elsewhere. But if you continuously train them, equip them with new skills and offer them new positions, they are more likely to stay longer.

COMMUNICATE AND LISTEN TO THEM. Keep clear communication lines between management and employees. Let them in on everything they should know about. Provide the necessary feedback whenever it is available. Listen to their ideas and suggestions. Find the time to have a chat with your employees so you know what is going on. Sometimes employees have issues that bother them and would love to air them out. So, management should make sure they communicate well with their employees, as well as listen to them. Clear communication is a motivating factor and a great way to retain good staff.

INVOLVE THEM IN DECISION MAKING. Give them an opportunity to make some decisions for your business. Delegate some tasks to them. Trust them with positions of responsibility and they will stick around more. This is because they feel as though they are also part of the organization/business.

TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT. Employees deserve to be treated with respect, or else they will have no reason to stick around. They are as human as everyone else in the organization, so management should treat them with respect and they will stay longer.

OFFER SOME BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES. While benefits and incentives may not necessarily keep all the good staff around, their importance should not be underestimated. Most employees consider the benefits they get from their job versus what is offered by other companies in the same industry. Incentives and benefits play a big role in reducing employee turnover. Some companies whose turnover has remained the lowest are those that have been ranked among the best places to work for (because of the benefits and incentives provided to their employees).

ENSURE A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. If employees like their workplace, they will always be looking forward to come to work every morning. There are certain things you can do to ensure that your environment is positive for your staff. Click here to learn more about providing a positive workplace environment.

 REMEMBER THEIR IMPORTANT DAYS such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc. This shows them that you care about them on a personal level. You could arrange for an informal get-together moment at work, by having a few snacks and drinks delivered to celebrate someone’s anniversary, or throw a small baby shower, etc. Also, celebrate holidays together. For instance, host a Christmas lunch party at work. Such moments mean a lot to your staff and could help keep them longer.

Don't lose good staff to another competitor. Stay on top of your game and you will reap the benefits.

Learn more about this author, Amon Karagara.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.