Finding and keeping the best people

Wow, what a year 2022 has been so far. After the challenges of Covid, we’re now facing  huge uncertainty around our political and financial security.  The employment landscape has changed dramatically and our customers are reporting that finding and keeping good people is becoming increasingly difficult.

Now more than ever, employees are seeking roles that help them to be their authentic selves whilst at work; they are looking for flexibility, increased benefits and they want to feel truly valued.  We’ve found that the best people leaders are working hard and at pace to cultivate their culture, engage their people in meaningful ways, and truly focus on employee experience and wellbeing.

Being proactive and strategic in your approach to recruitment and retention can make all the difference in a competitive employment market.  We’ve developed 5 top tips for forward-thinking people leaders to support you to find and keep the best employees:

Create purpose and value for your people

There was a time when pay was a dominant factor in people making employment decisions.  Since Covid, people are increasingly seeking a more human value proposition.

To secure and keep the best people, leaders need to develop and nurture meaningful relationships with the staff, create a strong sense of community and connection, and enable purpose-driven work.

To do this, you’ll need to embed your organisational values and culture throughout your business; starting with recruitment and onboarding.

Provide flexible working options (where possible)

Covid changed the landscape in terms of where and when people work, and we don’t see things returning to how they were before the pandemic.  Recent studies show that organisations offering flexible working options maintain significantly better employee retention.

Allowing people flexibility in when and where they work allows people to be more productive, efficient and creative and it helps people feel more valued and trusted at work. 

Put teamwork at the heart of what you do

Creating a strong emphasis on teamwork helps to nurture connection to your organisation and supports effective employee engagement.  Stronger teams not only mean greater productivity and performance, they also encourage collaboration and a stronger overall culture.

Spend time getting to know your people and teams; give them time and space to communicate effectively, give open feedback, appreciate each other’s roles and have fun together.  

We’ve found that by proactively seeking team engagement opportunities, people leaders see both instant and long lasting results.

Look after your people’s health

Covid brought wellness and health into the spotlight in a big way and employees are now looking for organisations that will positively support both their physical and mental health

As well as offering flexible working patterns and arrangements, it’s also important to make sure your workplace is clean, welcoming and inclusive.  Take time to create a culture of openness where your people can talk to you about  health concerns and feel able to share about their mental health too.

Think about what you can do to help your people reduce stress and avoid burnout, keep safe at work, look after their family and maintain a good work/  life balance. 

Make professional and personal development a priority

You might have a fantastic training programme during onboarding, but now is the time to think about how much you continue to invest in professional development for your people.  Developing and upskilling your team not only fosters continuous improvement, but also shows your people that they are valued, recognised and makes them happier.  

Make sure there are regular opportunities for your teams to learn together and embed this within your culture.

Takeaway top tips

There are lots of things you can do to build retention within your business.  We’ve found that the overarching theme and key takeaway is to ensure that your people feel valued and heard.

By using employee feedback to develop an inclusive, people focused culture and ensuring your teams feel connected and purposeful, you’ll be on a good path to both finding and keeping the best people.