If you have a business with employees in it, keeping your best ones is easily one of the top two or three priorities on your list of things to make SURE you are doing. You know that if you can find and keep the right people, your business can go where you want it to go. The longer they are in your business, the more valuable they become. Whether its setting the tone for the culture, being your lead trainer, solving problems, fueling growth, or simply becoming an extension of the business owner, their value is HUGE. They understand the ins and outs of how the business works. They can see problems and make changes long before you will ever know of a need. Finding and keeping top notch employees is a MUST.
The problem with most employees of a small business is that they do not view their position as long term. They do not see their career developing within your business. They view their job as temporary. Small businesses typically have roles to fill, they do not have career paths. This perspective causes your people to hold back what they can really offer your business. They may like their job, but they cannot imagine themselves doing this same thing in five, eight, ten years. Instead of small business employees becoming an extension of the owner, they move on at the worst possible time for your company.
With this perspective, your best people will continue to leave for other opportunities. When this happens, business owners are the ones picking up those responsibilities. Then you own your job instead of your business, and you begin wondering how much longer you can do this.
What if your employees had a clear future within your business? What if they understood how to improve their skillset and become more valuable? What if they knew exactly how they could double or triple their income? What if sharp, young talent knew that your business was one where they could grow and develop?
How would that affect your ability to protect and grow the business? How would that change the future of your business?
Here are 4 simple steps to start keeping long-term employees:
1. Shift Your Mindset
- We can hear it now….”that won’t work with my business”. It is just not true, reject that old way of thinking and shift your mind to thinking about why someone would want to stay with this company for a long time.
2. List Your Positions
- List out the positions you currently have and the ones you will add in the next 12-18 months.
3. Brainstorm the Skills
- Make a list of skills that would make people in each position more valuable. Make a list of how to attain those skills; certifications, continuing education, training courses, internal quizzes & exams, equipment certifications, interviews, books, characteristics, and more.
4. Develop the Career Path
- Now that you know the positions and skillsets, begin to overlay timing for promotions and skill development. Your people are not going to simply gain these promotions and skills overnight, so map out a path for them.
None of this can happen in your company until you shift your mindset. This will work in any company, in any industry. Get creative. Think about what makes the best employee you have ever had and create a career path that explains how they became the best. Take 15 minutes to complete the PDF below. It will give you a clear understanding of how to begin this exercise. This time will be an investment in your business that will be returned in long-term employees who want to protect and grow your business. The future of your business will no longer be in question due to losing your best employees. Invest in your business now. Your future self will thank you for all the time you saved.
