In the post-COVID landscape, retaining staff is perhaps the most common concern that leaders share with me. There are a number of influential factors, which can be summarised as:
šš±š²š»šš¶š³š šš²š š£š¹š®šš²šæš: Likely to be employees who not only excel in their roles but also embody your company's values. They're the ones who inspire their colleagues and drive initiatives forward. These are the leaders with a small āLā.
š¢š³š³š²šæ ššæš¼šššµ š¢š½š½š¼šæššš»š¶šš¶š²š: People thrive when they grow. Ensure your team has access to training and development programs. This shows investment in their future, and simply that you care.
š„š²š°š¼š“š»š¶šš² š®š»š± š„š²šš®šæš±: A simple "thank you" goes a long way. Recognise efforts publicly and consider rewards that align with their personal values and professional goals.
šš¼ššš²šæ š® š¦šš½š½š¼šæšš¶šš² (š®š»š± š³šš»!) ššš¹šššæš²: A supportive work environment encourages loyalty. Promote open communication, teamwork, and a healthy work-life balance.
š£šæš¼šš¶š±š² šš¼šŗš½š²šš¶šš¶šš² šš¼šŗš½š²š»šš®šš¶š¼š»: Sorry purists, but pay matters. Regularly review packages to ensure they're competitive and reflect your team's contributions. This should be approached with no less seriousness than reviewing product/service prices.
šš»š°š¼ššæš®š“š² šššš¼š»š¼šŗš: Trust your team; empower them. Giving employees control over their work results in a sense of ownership and satisfaction. Accountability will also improve.
šš²š²š±šÆš®š°šø: Two-way feedback is essential ā be available physically and emotionally. Your team will feel heard and valued.
By focusing on these areas, you will create an environment where staff want to stay and also to grow and succeed. Win, win.
I try to meet with, virtually or in person, lots of my business and coaching contacts, and I find this an effective way of keeping up to date with the latest relevant issues. It also helps to ‘ground’ me and encourage me to check in with my own work and approach. Along the way I have lots of discussions about leadership which inevitably entails wildly differing views and opinions.
Out of the proliferation of remote work during and after COVID, a new challenge for organisations has emerged: many important skills are not easily, or cannot be, nurtured through screens. In the traditional office environment, the subtle yet powerful process of learning osmotically plays a critical role. Leaders model behaviours, and employees, often subconsciously, absorb crucial skills such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, and intuitive decision-making. Even resilience can be enhanced through witnessing other people’s coping mechanisms.
Reflecting on what I feel makes a leader truly great, I realise that leadership is generally misunderstood. It should not be about rank or authority;