Good employees and how to avoid losing them

How can we avoid losing our best employees and what can be done to keep them in the company?  Even though (especially in this country) the permanent position has become almost a utopian concept, in many organisations there are some excellent members of staff, who could easily find new career opportunities elsewhere at any time.  These people are difficult to replace and should be stimulated day by day with challenging projects, appropriate salaries and real gratification.

The first rule in keeping a good member of staff is to encourage them and make them feel sufficiently appreciated.  This is made possible above all by creating a working environment which involves, stimulates and welcomes them.  Furthermore, it is essential to involve the staff in order to make them feel part of a larger team, in which ideas, intuition and suggestions are appreciated by all team members.

The team leader must be skilled in valuing and making the most of each individual’s characteristics:  ideally this should be a decisive and competent person who uses his own experience to enhance the various employees’ performance, by manoeuvring the team members with respect, admiration and loyalty.  That does not mean he or she should be subordinate to the employees, but able to recognise and agree their merits.

The leader who wishes to know how to avoid losing their best members of staff is duty-bound to provide support, but also stimuli and inspiration.  A strategy to introduce from the start with the most ambitious employees is to regularly give them new objectives to aim for.  If, on the other hand, an employee is much sought after by other companies, it is essential to be seen by these individuals as bosses to be held in high esteem, emulated and respected.

The more appreciated such individuals feel and the more they feel they can rely on the company’s support, the less chance there is of them choosing a different career.  New opportunities, attractive prospects and promises which are maintained are the factors which enable a company to keep its workers.  These are the essential ingredients to build and maintain a keen and proactive team of staff over the years.

So that is our advice on how to avoid losing your best employees; valid suggestions to be put into practice each day in any professional setting.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith