One of the biggest issues I’ve seen over the last few years is small business owners trying to hang on to employees.
“You just can’t get good help anymore!” has been uttered in my office more than a few times.
The unemployment rate is historically low, so it’s not like there is this huge pool of unemployed people banging down your door either.
We often blame a lack on work ethic, the government, and even Millennials (because we like blaming Millennials.)
And, all of those things may play a role; however, we can’t control the rest of the world. We can only control what we do.
The ironic part is that we want employees to just do their job, because it’s their job.
However, the job of an owner is to keep employees engaged and reasonably happy.
Most likely if you “just do your job,” they will be much more likely to “just do their job.”
Below are four reasons I see small business owners losing employees and what to do about it:
1. They don’t feel like they have the ability to make their own decisions
After some proper training, empower your employees to make their own decisions and make sure they know they are empowered. I couldn’t tell you the number of times a small business owner told me their employees won’t take any initiative. In reality, they haven’t told the employee they have the liberty to make their own decisions.
2. They don’t really understand how their role helps anyone
Let’s face it, the person in the office does not think their job is very exciting or really matters. It’s up to you to explain that if the bookkeeping, phone calls, and scheduling aren’t kept correctly, the office will be in chaos and that everyone is depending on them.
3. They don’t feel like they are recognized
Recognition is the number one motivator in the workplace and it is the easiest thing for you to do. A simple pat on the back or public thank you will go a long way.
4. They don’t feel connected or inspired by their boss
Your employees are not going to do an awesome job, simply because you paid them $12/hour. Yes, I know that when you had that same job years ago, you were happy to do your job and make half as much, but times have changed. Now, more than ever, employees want to be led and inspired and that’s your job!
And yes, I left out money.
Employees don’t leave because they can make 25 cents more per hour somewhere else. That’s how they justified the move. They left because of one of the previous reasons listed.
