It isn’t enough to say we "didn't do anything" to run our staff off. Rather, we have to be committed to finding, hiring, developing, and retaining top talent. It is the most important role a leader has.
There are many tactics, some of which I have listed below, but the foundation for success is:
Based on this foundation, I have found five keys I have come to believe are universal and apply to hiring and retaining top talent in all professions:
1. Make hiring a priority
2. Establish a solid foundation
3. Ensure staff have the tools they need
4. Provide necessary funding
5. Lead by example
There are many tactics, some of which I have listed below, but the foundation for success is:
- Finding and hiring great people
- Investing in their professional development
- Treating them with respect by listening, using their ideas, giving them credit, providing them with timely constructive feedback, and thanking them regularly
- Communicating with them often and clearly
- Being honest and never lying or shading the truth
Based on this foundation, I have found five keys I have come to believe are universal and apply to hiring and retaining top talent in all professions:
1. Make hiring a priority
2. Establish a solid foundation
3. Ensure staff have the tools they need
4. Provide necessary funding
5. Lead by example
1. Make hiring a priority
- Do not abdicate this responsibility to anyone at any time (including Human Resources)
- Hire for strengths and, in the process, build a strong, diverse team
- Remember that your staff doesn’t have to work for you and your organization – they all have options, and the most talented staff members have unlimited options
2. Establish a solid foundation
- Insist on high standards and don’t compromise on core values
- Help all remember who the client is – it is the organization/business/cause, not the CEO/Board/VP – and base decisions on what’s best for the client
- Create an atmosphere that fosters creativity, trust, innovation, excellence, cooperation, camaraderie, and satisfaction through accomplishments
- Offer sincere thanks regularly to all who were involved
- Provide timely, honest, constructive feedback
3. Ensure staff have the tools they need
- Start with a strong orientation and continue with regular professional development
- Provide the support that leads to freedom and confidence, including running interference and removing hurdles that may exist
- Guide/encourage/train staff on developing key skills, such as presentations/public speaking, story-telling, writing, listening, budgeting, customer service
4. Provide necessary funding
- Provide staff with the opportunity to estimate, budget, and be accountable for funds – it is a key skill for advancement
- Avoid the “Sugar Daddy” approach – said another way, avoid the “The person with the gold rules” version of the Golden Rule
5. Lead by example
- Remember this, attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson: “What you do is so loud, people can’t hear what you are saying”
- Show the ability to both lead and follow – know when to do each and be equally good at both
- Be open to all good ideas – good, creative ideas can come from anyone in the organization, and often come from those closest to the work
- Help staff see the big picture and set priorities accordingly
- Use humor effectively