This week the amazing folks of the Zealeap “Culture Club” tackled a culture challenge that many businesses face today: How do you keep your best people when the economy finally rebound?
A lot of leaders feel that the recession has created a “Buyer’s Market.” They reason that employees have fewer options and are “just lucky to have a job.”
They are right.
© iStock Photo
However when they cop this attitude, they miss two big whopping problems:
- The majority of employees are not engaged and not giving their best. Business performance suffers.
- The best people always have options and are in demand, especially as the economy inevitably rebounds.
To make it worse, our studies find employees reporting much more intense pressure from their managers along with more aggressive and disrespectful leadership.
Leaders have a BIG looming problem: Burnout and dissatisfaction will cause people to leave when the market does improve. And their best people will leave first.
So how do you create a culture that keeps your best people as the economy bumps around and eventually recovers?
Our Culture Club team brainstormed three main recommendations for leaders:
1. Think Big
Work hard to keep your team inspired. Talk about the mission – the Why? of your organization. Keep the focus on your core values and be walking role models of the passion you want your organization to feel.
2. Think Small
It’s never more important to connect 1-on-1 with your team members; listen, show them you care. Be candid about where the organization is and the challenges you all face. Appreciate them individually and help them grow.
3. Relentlessly Find The Best Performers
You have to have an outstanding process to find the best people in your organization. Everyone needs to know results you expect them to get, and the top performers need to know that you appreciate them. Root-out poor performers and don’t tolerate poor behavior (especially from managers) – no matter how bad the economy.
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It’s hard to communicate the passion felt by our Culture Club members! They feel a real disconnect between senior leaders and their employees right now. And yet they desperately want to be inspired, they want to give their best.
Are you tapping into this passion? Or are you taking your employees for granted?
Thanks for reading,
Tim
P.S. If you’re not part of “Culture Club”, you’re missing an amazing opportunity to grow your leadership skills and to connect with people who share your passion – Click here to get involved.
