6 Things You Need to Offer to Retain Top Talent

Retaining your company’s best talent is challenging during strong economic times, but it’s no walk in the park in a tough economy, either. Skills are skills, and regardless of how much your best people love working for you, if they see a better offer somewhere else, well…

That’s why it’s so crucially important to stay ahead of the curve then it comes to retaining your best employees, and anticipate what your top talent is seeking BEFORE they start looking around at other, greener pastures. Based on my conversations with high-performance staff at all levels and across a variety of industries at our corporate employee team building events, here’s what your most important human resources are looking for – and how you can provide them with it:

1. 1) Professional Development – Your best and brightest are hungry, and are constantly seeking ways to improve, build or otherwise develop their skill sets. Whenever possible, give them the opportunity on a silver platter!

1. 2) A Clear Career Trajectory – High performers aren’t settlers, regardless of how cushy their current situation may seem. These people are motivated, energetic and ambitious, and are eager to see the path before them which will take them to the next level. Illuminate this path clearly, or else they’ll go off in search of new opportunities.

1. 3) Administrative Support – If your best people are bogged down doing administrative work, than they are not going to be satisfied. Clear their plates of as much admin as possible, so that they may spread their wings and fly!

1. 4) Trust – In a book I’m fond of called The 8^th Habit, bestselling author Steven Covey (author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) talks about the benefits of granting employees trust to make decisions on their own, rather than have to go through you, the boss. Doing so allows your best people to gain confidence and ownership over their position at your firm, and as a result they will devote more attention and greater care to their work. It also demonstrates your faith in their abilities.

1. 5) Networking Opportunities – Your best talent wants to build their lists of professional contacts, and if you aren’t providing them with those opportunities, than they will seek them elsewhere. Facilitate meetings with people outside the department/company, send them to represent you to outside constituents, let them attend seminars & conferences. You will find that their loyalty will grow, rather than dim.

1. 6) Honest Feedback – High performance people have gotten that way not only by constantly evaluating themselves, but by seeking the honest feedback of others. I’m not saying you need to be a fault-finder, but don’t just stroke their egos either, telling them they’re great and think that’ll be enough to keep them around. Let them know what they did right, but also ways to improve. They will respect that, and you.

In your experience, what are some other important offerings to ensure that you are retaining top talent within your organization?