Unsure of How to Keep Your Top Employees? 3 Tips

A management study done by BSI in 2010 exposed " retention of top performers " as being the third most overwhelming topic for corporate leaders these days. We very often ponder whether or not they will stay or quit - and when either will happen. The truth is, your highest rated staff have already decided if they will stay or leave! That’s right. Folks who have decided to stay, know why - and what will chase them away. Individuals who will leave may already know when, and scenarios that would encourage them to change their minds and stay. So in your case as a director, attempting to guess what’s in their heads will yield no results.



Do you know the things they know? If you are not, you’ll be the loser! Perhaps it’s too late top keep some top employees - not so for other people. Knowledge is power and the sooner you act the better.



Here’s a fairly easy tip: You will need to get information if you want to retain your high performers… but what kind of information are we talking about? First, stop.



1. Stop jumping the gun - regarding who on your team are prepared to quit and why, and which will decide to stay and why. Don't think you know it all.



2. Stop projecting - your own personal needs and inclinations onto your high performers. As an example ,, if you’d quit for extra salary, believing team members would, is projecting. You may wish to know the options, and you’d leave only if the perfect job came forth; you are projecting by believing that other people will act the same way.



3. Stop acting helpless - regarding getting high performers to remain. It’s correct that high performers leave because they are not getting what their performance deserves, but money is rarely the reason. They may say it is, but being truthful on the way out the door will serve no purpose from their angle.



The important task is to locate what is on their minds. This can only be done by building business relationships, developing trust, and making it painless and safe for them to tell you what is happening.



You’re ahead of the game if these behaviors describe your leadership style. After all, these are the leadership basics derived from leadership training, leadership consulting, executive MBA programs, even the school of hard knocks.



Start talking to your performers today. If you want you keep them, then follow the tips above.



BSI is an executive coaching Atlanta firm. We also provide management training programs in Atlanta. Check out our inspirational books for women