10 Secrets

Your Employees
Arent
Telling You
And How You
Can Improve Morale
And Retention

2010 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Ignorance is Not Bliss

Employees
dont always
share whats on
their minds

Ignorance is Not Bliss

but what you dont know can hurt you:
Deterioration in product quality/service levels
Costly errors/missed deadlines

Attrition of top
performers

Inefficiency
Low morale

Decreased productivity

Knowledge = Power to Change

and Improve
As a manager, its 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

Remember the law of diminishing returns
You may achieve
higher productivity in
the short term, but
eventually it catches
up to you

Secret #1:

Employees Feel Overwhelmed

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 #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

Re-recruit to retain

Conduct job interviews

Sell them on your firms strengths
Recognize and reward their efforts
Share your vision and ask them to share theirs

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

Ive 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 Ill
be leaving early today

A friend of
mine at XYZ
Co. just got
promoted

Get Out Your Decoder

Im on the
verge of
burnout.
Is everything
okay with the
company?

Oh, by the way, I have

an appointment, so Ill
be leaving early today

A friend of
mine at XYZ
Co. just got
promoted

Get Out Your Decoder

Oh, by the way, I have
an appointment, so Ill
be leaving early today

Im on the
verge of
burnout.
Is my job
secure?

A friend of
mine at XYZ
Co. just got
promoted

Get Out Your Decoder

Oh, by the way, I have
an appointment, so Ill
be leaving early today

Im on the
verge of
burnout.
Is my job
secure?

When are
you going to
promote me?

Get Out Your Decoder

Im on the
verge of
burnout.
Is my job
secure?

I have a job interview

at another company
because I plan to
leave.

When are
you going to
promote me?

Secret #6:

Employees Think Youre in Their Way

Progress
Motivation
Progress

Secret #6:

Employees Think Youre in Their Way

Are you a roadblock?
Dont hold your team back
Eliminate long and
unnecessary
meetings
Streamline approval
processes
Dont abuse the
high priority label
Delegate

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

Wheres the payback for
all the hard work?
Be open about what
your company can and
cant 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
companys 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 dont say)

Pay Attention
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

Make Employee Secrets Unnecessary

Secrets thrive
when employees
feel they cant be
honest with you

Make Employee Secrets Unnecessary

el
b
u
o
e tr ams
t
a
e
r
C
g te
n
i
t
o
sho

m to
e
h
t
As k
our
y

e
grad ance
rm
perfo

Set
sugg up a
estion
box

Hold an
If I were
boss for a
day
contest

Give prizes for

great ideas

10 Secrets
Your Employees
Arent
Telling You
And How You
Can Improve Morale
And Retention

2010 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer.