Why People Quit
And what smart leaders do about it
How many of us have quit a job? Because of the work? Because of the boss? Performance pressure from friends or family? Whatever the reason, if we ever reach the management position, we certainly don’t wish to operate the way our “bad” managers carried on. We want to do better, don’t we? Here are some tips for you to chew on.
Bad Managers
What to do
· Offer management training
· Enable feedback
· Ensure a thorough, merit-based promotion process
Unequal Treatment
What to do
· Standardize performance evaluations
· Use 360 feedback to limit managers’ blind spots
· Allow anonymous reporting
Lack of Recognition
What to do
· Praise often and publicly
· Celebrate big wins with bonuses or lunch
· Enable peer recognition
Bureaucratic Policies
What to do
· Remove Roadblocks
· Ask employees what’s getting in their way
· Reevaluate policies often
Lack of Resources
What to do
· Ask employees what they need and deliver on it
· Don’t skimp on core tools
· Offer training broadly
No Obvious Mission
What to do
· Outline a vision and mission
· Make clear how each role contributes to them
· Celebrate actions that further the mission
Toxic Culture
What to do
· Remove toxic employees
· Emphasize strong and open communication
· Conduct employee surveys
Limited Job Security
What to do
· Be transparent about macro challenges
· Avoid layoffs at all costs
· Be generous with exits
Poor Compensation
What to do
· Pay at a level meant to retain (turnover is costlier)
· Give performance bonuses
· Provide generous benefits
No Work-Life Balance
What to do
· Encourage time off
· Make weekend emails rare
· Offer flexibility as often as possible
Unfair Workload
What to do
· Regularly examine staffing levels and hiring needs
· Help teams and employees prioritize tasks
· Encourage speaking up
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