Top 7 Tips to Stop Staff From Leaving

Staff retention is key to productivity. Often, by the time you realise you have an issue with a staff member, they have accepted another job or have already made the decision to hand in their resignation- case closed. If you can start paying attention a bit earlier, you will be able to pick up on some telltale signs a staff member is about to leave.

1. Pay attention to changes in performance. A staff member who has always been a strong performer whose work suddenly takes a downturn is a red flag. Generally when someone is unmotivated or unhappy, their quality of work is the first obvious sign.
   
   
2. Look for increased absenteeism, especially for a staff member who has a pretty good attendance record. This is a good sign that something is amiss.
   
   
3. Keep the lines of communication open- not only when you notice a problem but regularly, from the time you hire them. You want them to feel comfortable enough to talk to you about any problems brewing so you can address them before they become insurmountable.
   
   
4. Look at broader business policies like promotions, remuneration and bonuses. You don't need to throw money at staff to try to get them to stay, but by examining the way you recognise and reward staff, you can ensure your team feels appreciated and their work is acknowledged- sometimes this is half the battle in staff retention.
   
   
5. Look for little things like them taking more phone calls during work hours, and taking these calls behind closed doors. This could indicate these conversations are about other job opportunities- not always, but it pays to take note of this behaviour.
   
   
6. Be empathetic to your staff. You feel the pressure of hitting deadlines, meeting targets and generally being asked to achieve more, with less resources and budget. Oftentimes this stress is passed down to the employees, however they don't have the benefit of understanding why things are so crazy. Let them know when things change, why things have changed and help them understand what they need to do to meet new objectives. They may still feel stressed but at least they will have some understanding of why.
   
   
7. Implement some stress relieving tactics. A quiet room for staff to go and take a moment to regroup. Daily exercise to help burn off some negative energy and bond outside the office. A clear, clean workspace- a cluttered workspace can mean a cluttered mind.

Joel Hill is the General Manager for Noojee Contact Solutions, a provider of call centre software. Joel offers advice to small businesses in his weekly blog, discussing staff motivation, staff retention, and other tactics to drive productivity.