9 Things That Make Good Employees Quit
It’s pretty incredible how often we hear managers complaining about their best employees leaving. Managers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun, while ignoring the crux of the matter: people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. This situation can be prevented by avoiding the following Things that make Good Employees Quit:
1. They Overwork People
Overworking good employees is perplexing; it makes them feel as if they’re being punished for great performance. New research from Stanford shows that productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours.
2. They Don’t Recognize Contributions and Reward Good Work
It’s easy to underestimate the power of a pat on the back. Everyone likes kudos. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good and then to reward them for a job well done.
3. They Don’t Care about Their Employees
More than half of people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationship with their boss. Smart companies make certain their managers know how to balance being professional with being human. These are the bosses who celebrate an employee’s success.
4. They Don’t Honour Their Commitments
Making promises to people places you on the fine line that lies between making them very happy and watching them walk out the door. When you uphold a commitment, you grow in the eyes of your employees.
5. They Hire and Promote the Wrong People
When managers don’t do the hard work of hiring good people, it’s a major demotivator for those stuck working alongside them. Promoting the wrong people is even worse.
6. They Don’t Let People Pursue Their Passions
Talented employees are passionate. Providing opportunities for them to pursue their passions improves their productivity and job satisfaction.
7. They Fail to Develop People’s Skills
When managers are asked about their inattention to employees, they try to excuse themselves, using words such as “trust” and “empowerment.” This is complete nonsense. Good managers manage, no matter how talented the employee.
8. They Fail to Engage Their Creativity
The most talented employees seek to improve everything they touch. If you take away their ability to change and improve things because you’re only comfortable with the status quo, this makes them hate their jobs.
9. They Fail to Challenge People Intellectually
Great bosses challenge their employees to accomplish things that seem inconceivable at first. Instead of setting mundane, incremental goals, they set lofty goals that push people out of their comfort zones.
Bringing It All Together
If you want your best people to stay, you need to think carefully about how you treat them. While good employees are as tough as nails, their talent gives them an abundance of options. You need to make them want to work for you. And remember, it costs less to train to become a brilliant manager, than it does to replace just one of your talented employees.