Improve Retention By Employing Some Simple Communication Tactics

Employee retention is a hot topic for a good reason.  As the economy and the job market have improved, employees are feeling more comfortable about leaving an employer where they don’t feel appreciated, so managers are starting to realize they need to do more to keep their employees happy..

But retaining employees isn’t only about paying them more money—the quality of the work experience overall makes a difference. And one of the best ways to create a work experience that makes employees want to stay? Believe it or not, being an effective communicator can be a huge factor.

Here are four ways to increase positive communication in any workplace:

1. Talk to your people.

Simple, basic, and yet so important: Employees need to know how the organization is doing. They need to know how they fit into the big picture. They need to know how their efforts influence the company’s results. In their book, The Pursuit of Something Better, authors Dave Esler and Myra Kruger shared a story about the CEO of US Cellular giving regular talks, where employees could hear him discussing the key issues for the business, what his expectations were for the staff, etc. Their conclusion was that such a direct line of communication did more to engage the workforce than all the emails, slogans, and ad campaigns anyone could ever ask for.

2. Make sure everyone is on the same page.

As a manager, be sure that your team members know their roles, job description, and responsibilities within the organization. Be sure they hear about any new company policies or initiatives—if not from the executive team, then directly from you. Nobody wants to feel like they’re being left out of the loop.

3. Include employees in decision making.

Nothing helps to create a culture of employee involvement faster than including team members in the decision making process, especially when those decisions will effect an individual’s department or work team.

4. Give feedback year-round.

Don’t wait for once a year performance evaluations to give feedback on how an employee is performing. Most team members enjoy more frequent feedback, and giving it will help keep performance levels high and reinforce positive behavior. Feedback doesn’t need to be scheduled or highly structured; simply stopping by a team member’s desk and letting them know they are doing a good job on a current project can do wonders for morale and help increase retention.

When employees feel included and that what they say and do matters at work, they are much more likely to stay.

Want to discuss more about retention and finding the right employees for your company? Communicate with us! Call or contact Triumph any time you want to know more.