Retaining
good performers has always been both a priority and challenge for
organizations. Retaining top talent is emerging as a major competitive
imperative for organizations. Adopting the appreciative inquiry note, advocates
suggest that instead of focusing on what causes employees to leave, companies
should focus on what causes them to stay. Research conducted in this area has
uncovered many variables that help people stay on board. These three major
variables are fit, connection and sacrifice.
Fit
refers to the employee’s perception of compatibility with the organization and
the surrounding community. Employees with a sense of fitting in believe they
have shared values with organization and also that their KSA and personality fits
the job nature and demands.
In
terms of connection the employee feels strong links with the colleagues and
organizational community. These links foster organizational citizenship
behaviour. In the spirit of sacrifice the employee believes that if he / she
gives up work that will tantamount to giving up valuable, rich and rewarding
relationships at work; lucrative projects and rich social life outside
work. The better the fit between the
organization and the individual, the more connected he/she feels at work and
greater the potential sacrifice in case of snapping the work relationship.
All
these three crucial factors can be enhanced through proper on boarding, careful
career planning and work-life balance. The process of on boarding offers many
opportunities to build strong links between the new employee and the
organization. It gives the employee a chance to bond with the community at
work. When a new employee gets the opportunity to know colleagues at work and
share experiences with them, strong links are forged. Some other ways in which
organisations can help employees relate to work are by providing information on
company resources, offering perks, bonuses on tenure etc. The provision of
mentoring or coaching employees too helps them at work. Some organizations
sponsor employee sports league and encourage at home dinners to help employees
bond. Thus employee organization fit and connected can be built and improved
during the on boarding process. Executive search firms help
organizations design and deliver an extensive on boarding. This not only helps
retain key talent but also helps them to perform better. Apart from this,
discussing career development policies and opportunities also helps retention
as by do so companies are in essence promising a future.
