This is Part 2 (N to Z) of a two part series.
Are you letting your star employees know they matter? Valentine’s Day–and all year round–is the perfect time to let them know you care. Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans, authors of Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay, have provided 26 (from A to Z) specific ways that you can show your employees that you care.
(N) Three wishes.
Think about a key employee that you don’t want to lose. Run the NUMBERS on the cost of replacing that employee. (List every cost – soft and hard – that you can think of.) Now compute the cost of offering that employee some stay here incentives. (Think of incentives other than money, and base your list on what you know about that person.) Pick three that you would be willing to offer. Now set a date to chat.
(O) Open a new door.
Brainstorm an OPPORTUNITY hit list with an employee – some might be about growing, learning or stretching in some new way. Others could be related to a chance to see another part of the business. Prioritize the list and then open a door!
(P) Blend your employee’s work and passion.
Have a PASSION Breakfast. (Maybe this is something you offer to all your employees, as a team, or one on one.) Simply ask… What do you love to do?
(Q) An exception to the rules.
Give a Bend the Rules pass that involves and encourages bending (or breaking) the status quo. Then stay open and bend as much as you can when they make their request. Show that you’ll QUESTION the rules.
(R) Play genie in a bottle to your employee’s recognition wish list.
Ask an employee to write down six ways they would like to be REWARDed. Anything goes. The only rule is that half the ideas need to be low cost or no cost.
(S) Help them feel at home at work.
Offer a shopping spree to a local supply store for an employee to get items (no staplers or paper clips allowed) to personalize his/her SPACE: office, vehicle, work station or cubicle.
(T) Listen to the truth – over lunch!
Talk about gift giving. This one – the TRUTH – is powerful. We know of one division head who gave each employee $50, told them to choose a restaurant and take their manager out to lunch for some straight talk and honest feedback about performance and development needs.
(U) A chance to download.
Give 12 coupons for listening time – one for each month where an employee can come for 20 minutes and talk to you about anything. Your job is to UNDERSTAND, i.e., just listen to them.
(V) Honor your employee’s values.
Over a cappuccino, glass of wine, or a cup of tea, try asking one of your employees any of these questions:
• What makes a perfect day at work?
• Looking back, what’s made you the most satisfied?
• What does success mean to you?
Take notes. Read your notes back to that employee. What have you both learned about his/her VALUES? How can you put that information to use?
(W) A day of improving health.
Have a limousine pick up an employee for a full day at a spa. Give gift coupons for Tai-Chi, yoga or golf lessons. You get the idea! Encourage WELLNESS.
(X) Play time.
Give a fun-loving X-ER (or anyone) a series of Get out and Play cards that they can redeem at their discretion. For example: Leave work early to go to a movie, or shopping, or play extreme Frisbee.
(Y) The starring role, for once.
Give an employee a chance to lead that project that you’ve been hoarding for yourself. (You’ll know which it is!) Offer the spotlight. YIELD. Coach when necessary. What has he/she learned? What did you learn?
(Z) Your promise to repeat the offer.
If this kind of care package worked, offer to do it again! Now you’ve reached the ZENITH.