© 2010 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

10 Secrets Your Employees

Aren’t Telling You

…And How YouCan Improve Morale

And Retention

Ignorance is Not Bliss

Employees don’t always

share what’s on their minds …

Ignorance is Not Bliss

… but what you don’t know can hurt you:

Decreased productivityInefficiency

Costly errors/missed deadlines

Deterioration in product quality/service levels

Attrition of top performers

Low morale

Knowledge = Power to Change and Improve

As a manager, it’s up to you to keep a pulse on the work environment – What are the top

concerns of employees?

– What would employees change if they could?

– How satisfied are they?

Knowledge = Power to Change and Improve

The payoff Higher employee morale and motivation Lower turnover Your firm is viewed internally and

externally as an employer of choice

Secret #1:Employees Feel Overwhelmed

Lean teams and tight budgets lead to stress

Watch for warning signs of burnout:– Higher absenteeism

– Missed deadlines

– Increased number of errors

– Irritability

– Forgetfulness

– Apathy

Secret #1:Employees Feel Overwhelmed

You may achieve higher productivity in the short term, but eventually it catches up to you

Remember the law of diminishing returns

To avoid losing your best people, take steps now to ease the burden– Reprioritize projects

– Redistribute workloads

– Place non-critical projects on hold

– Hire interim help

Secret #1:Employees Feel Overwhelmed

Secret #2:Employees Want to Advance

Top performers want to keep moving up

Help them develop goals and a plan for achieving them

Groom them for advancement:– Challenging assignments

– Skill-building opportunities

– Cross-training

Secret #3:Employees May Be Thinking of Leaving

45 percent of workers surveyed said they plan to change employers, careers or industries when the economy improves

Secret #3:Employees May Be Thinking of Leaving

Conduct “job interviews” Sell them on your firm’s strengths Recognize and reward their efforts Share your vision and ask them to share theirs

Re-recruit to retain

Secret #4:Employees Are Nervous

Your staff are uncertain about what the future holds

Transparency is both necessary and reassuring

Communicate openly:– Let them know how the

business is performing– Solicit their ideas for improving

efficiencies or developing new customers

Secret #5:Employees Feel Overlooked

Has employee recognition slipped to the back burner?

Find inexpensive ways to say, “I appreciate you.”

Tailor your rewards:– “Bravo Points”– Spot bonuses– Employee of the

month

Get Out Your Decoder

“I’ve been doing the work of three people for a year …”

“Is everything okay with the company?”

“Oh, by the way, I have an appointment, so I’ll be leaving early today …”

“A friend of mine at XYZ Co. just got promoted …”

“Is everything okay with the company?”

“I’m on the verge of burnout.”

“Oh, by the way, I have an appointment, so I’ll be leaving early today …”

“A friend of mine at XYZ Co. just got promoted …”

Get Out Your Decoder

“I’m on the verge of burnout.”

“Oh, by the way, I have an appointment, so I’ll be leaving early today …”

“Is my job secure?”

“A friend of mine at XYZ Co. just got promoted …”

Get Out Your Decoder

“When are you going to promote me?”

“I’m on the verge of burnout.”

“Oh, by the way, I have an appointment, so I’ll be leaving early today …”

“Is my job secure?”

Get Out Your Decoder

“I have a job interview at another company because I plan to leave.”

“When are you going to promote me?”

“I’m on the verge of burnout.”

“Is my job secure?”

Get Out Your Decoder

Secret #6:Employees Think You’re in Their Way

Motivation

Progress

Progress

Don’t hold your team back

– Eliminate long and unnecessary meetings

– Streamline approval processes

– Don’t abuse the “high priority” label

– Delegate

Are you a roadblock?

Secret #6:Employees Think You’re in Their Way

Secret #7:Employees Want to Have a Say

Trust is empowering and motivating

Let employees take ownership of projects

Encourage problem solving, strategizing and creative thinking

Ask for their feedback about business challenges

Secret #8:Employees Want a Raise

Where’s the payback for all the hard work?

Be open about what your company can and can’t afford right now– Give a time frame

Offer alternatives:– Additional paid time off

– Reimbursement for professional education

Secret #9:Employees Know Other Great People

Let them help you find other top performers– Tap your team for

referrals– Offer referral bonuses– Bring team members

along when you recruit at job fairs and other events; enthusiasm is contagious

Secret #10:Employees Like Their Colleagues

Corporate culture is a big factor in employee satisfaction

Secret #10:Employees Like Their Colleagues

Play up the strengths of your company’s culture

Secret #10:Employees Like Their Colleagues

Foster “team cohesion”

Secret #10:Employees Like Their Colleagues

Celebrate together

Pay Attention

How to uncover secrets at your firm:– Look for clues and subtle

hints

– Watch for warning signs

– Listen closely to what they say (or don’t say)

Whispered conversations that stop when you walk by

Chronic tardiness or early departures

Sarcastic, cynical remarks about the company

A “why should I care?” attitude

Pay Attention

Make Employee Secrets Unnecessary

Secrets thrive when employees feel they can’t be honest with you

Make Employee Secrets Unnecessary

Create trouble-

shooting teams

Ask them to

“grade” your

performance

Set up a suggestion box

Hold an “If I were boss for a day…” contest

Give prizes for great ideas

© 2010 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

10 Secrets Your Employees

Aren’t Telling You

…And How YouCan Improve Morale

And Retention