People Leave Companies Because Of Their Managers

Why are corporations spending so much money, time and effort on new programmes and technologies to increase staff retention when the answer is right in front of our eyes – pure and unadulterated care, growth and connection to purpose and service.

Leadership is the one and only global retention strategy.

Care

An employee quite often is too far removed from the top levels of the organisation, so is more often seeking that genuine care from his/her own manager.

Caring is really about showing genuine interest and attention – for no intention of self-gain but rather, for goodwill to maintain a great relationship. Care is a quality that stems from feeling comfortable and seeing the role of service to others as important.

What drives this care is belief – belief in the intention of the other party. That belief may have grown over time or exist intuitively. Either way, credibility is the key to success in leadership, that which buys belief and trust, time and time again.

Growth

An employee expects to grow in any position and will use this as his/her ultimate measure of your leadership.

Growth is an innate desire, one that human beings seek on an everyday basis, consciously or otherwise.

How many times do we hear others complain: “I’m bored” or “I keep doing the same thing” or “I’m not learning anything new” or “They won’t let me go as I’m too good in my current position.” All of these are pills for employee turnover and disengagement, and certainly not retention.

We learn through teaching – learn about others as well as ourselves. According to Kouzes and Posner, the best leaders are the best learners, so why would anyone wish to leave when they are learning, upgrading, re-skilling and re-aligning?

Most of all, growth will benefit all the parties including the organisation – a valuable win-win.

Connection

Disconnected managers breed disconnected work environments.

Connection is that invisible bond that glues us together and helps things flow.

A great retention strategy is all about ensuring people have no interest in looking elsewhere, even if opportunity comes knocking on their doors. Most organisations are challenged when it comes to connection with oneself (especially the managers), with others, with the vision and with the business community or society.

People only want a sense of belonging and engagement – how can this exist without genuine care, growth and connection? These three ‘retention strategies’ are simple basic human needs. So it is time we go back to basics.

Debbie Nicol is the managing director of Dubai-based ‘business en motion’, and creator and author of the ‘embers of the world’ series.