The pandemic has changed the world in so many ways, and the way people look at their jobs is one of the hardest hit.
In 2021, a record number of people left their jobs, and that number is just going to grow as we near the end of this pandemic.
Organizations will need to navigate the ripple effects of this change, and re-evaluate how they retain their talent.
To understand why your people are leaving, you need to understand what changes you must make in order to keep people. How can you do this? By simply ASKING your people what they need!
If you are serious about retaining the people on your team (as you should be), consider conducting “stay” interviews. These are discussions where you ask loyal employees key questions to understand how engaged they are. The information you gather can help you tackle common retention issues.
Here are four questions to try:
- What’s your frame of mind today? No matter what the response is – positive or negative – don’t negate their experience or move too quickly to solving a problem. Just listen, thank them for being honest, and ask for more information before moving toward a solution.
- Who do you feel connected to at work? Based on their response, explore what you can do to help them deepen those connections. Perhaps people from different departments can work on a company-wide event, a cross-division initiative, or take part in virtual discussion groups.
- What do you want to learn that will excite you and help you grow? This question signals that you care about their development and want to help them achieve their aspirations.
- What barriers can I remove for you to help you do your job better? Then brainstorm with your colleague how you can be most helpful. Ensuring people can do their jobs well is just as important as praise and rewards.
Now you have some of the information you need in order to keep your people. Keep in mind, simply asking them for the information is just the first step. You must ACT on the information you receive in order to influence true change.
