Hold on to talented employees

LOSING talented employees is expensive and time-consuming, which is why it is important to hold on to them. The best way to do this is to make them feel valued and fulfilled so that they do not begin looking for greener pastures.

Deirdre Elphick-Moore of The Office Coach said that saying thank you could be a good place to start. “It’s simple, free and will make your employees feel valued and appreciated. It might even make them think twice about moving on.”

Elphick-Moore had more advice on keeping good members of staff:

Companies cannot assume that they know who the strong members of staff are if they do not provide them with opportunities to shine. Talent is often unleashed through creativity, so offer your employees a little freedom. Give them the chance to make their own suggestions and decisions;

Really talented members of staff often want to be heard and know that their opinions matter. To ensure they feel that way, set up regular meetings and treat these meetings as an opportunity to uncover goals and discuss whether they are being achieved and, if not, what you can do to help. Set attainable yet challenging tasks to give them a realistic idea of how they can progress their career — in your company, of course; and

Talented people can become very frustrated if they work with people they feel are not “up to scratch”. Consider involving them in the interviewing or recruitment process so that they can give feedback on candidates and their abilities. —