September 2007

Here today, gone tomorrow!

Are your employees ready to jump ship?

It's no secret that it's tough to find high quality employees in today's tight labour market. Low fertility rates, a rapidly ageing population and low levels of unemployment have all contributed to the changing and diminishing workforce.

Talent is in demand and people can now be more selective than ever about where they work. So what can you do to make sure you can get great people through the front door and stop them slipping out the back door just as fast?

The key to building a strong team is two-fold - getting the right people in the first place and then making them want to stay and resist temptation to move on. Think about how your workplace stacks up against others. Ask yourself ...

"Why would somebody want to work here instead of somewhere else?"

"If somebody offered one of my team another job today, why would they stay with me?"

If you're struggling to answer these questions chances are so are your team and you might need to hit the drawing board. To attract and retain great employees you need to focus on the following critical areas.

Your employment brand

Great companies attract great employees. Have you got an employment that is going to help attract people to you? What value proposition do you present to new employees? Your brand differentiators as a business can also work for you in the employment market. Often businesses lose the opportunity to capitalise on their branding by failing to integrate in into their people strategies. Your advertising and recruiting need to sell your brand and so does your work environment. Poor work environment, outdated technology and inefficiencies are sure-fire talent detractors.

How people are managed

This is the key area in retaining people. Research has consistently showed that poor management is the number one reason people leave workplaces and good management is the number one reason people stay. Make sure your managers and supervisors have great people management skills and if they don't invest in their development. Never turn a 'blind eye' to poor management behaviour. Make sure your leaders lead by example and take the time to provide feedback, coaching and guidance.

Focus on meeting your employee needs

Just as it's important to understand what your customers want and deliver it, don't underestimate the importance of knowing your employee's goals and needs. Take the time to get to know them on a personal level but keep in mind that most people look for the following in a great workplace:

• Meaningful and satisfying work
• Regular feedback on how they are performing
• Opportunities to learn and develop
• Flexibility that allows for work/life balance
• Recognition and sincere expressions of appreciation
• Price in where they work and what they do
• The opportunity to make a difference and have input and influence

So take the first step today. Ask the people who work for you for honest feedback on your workplace, how it's perceived and how they feel about working there. Listen with an open mind and use the information to put in place some strategies to make your business stand out from the crowd.

Diane Evans is the Managing Director of Fuze Solutions, who delivers Return to Work Seminars for mothers along with other flexibility solutions for individuals and workplaces. She is also the co-author of Mother Who?

Diane Evans Managing Director Fuze Solutions p 02 9918 2168 e info@fuzesolutions.com.au w www.fuzesolutions.com.au