This employee retention speaker and employee retention author was shocked when he heard a comment like that. Most times, I get a lukewarm sort of reaction when I talk to people about their place of employment. Then, I did my normal response of, “Really?” It’s amazing what people will then go on to tell you after a little prompt like that. This person who I was talking with went on to elaborate about some of the things that he loved about working at his company…and the word “loved” is the way I would describe it. Here are some of the things that came up in the conversation:
- The owner tells us what is going on in the business and how sales are doing
- We see the owner regularly so we can ask him questions
- We feel comfortable that the owner is looking out for us
- My boss listens to me…when I bring up ideas, he doesn’t just blow me off
- My boss leaves me alone and lets me do my job
- When we are wondering about stuff…my boss gets the answer
He then went on to tell me that he felt safe, secure and a part of something. He felt like what he did mattered and impacted the business and that he was treated with respect…the “R” in C.R.A.P. because of the way they treated him like he was an adult and not just some “peon.” Those were his words…not mine.
What the owner and the boss are doing is nothing special. However, when you put the two together, you have a powerful combination that drives employee retention strategies. You have an impenetrable wall against outside influences that can get this guy thinking that the “grass is greener” on the other side of the fence. Think about what they do when you look at the list above. They communicate and keep the grapevine in check. They take actions that indicate they Care…the “C” in C.R.A.P. and they don’t micromanage the guy. Simple stuff, but they do it across the spectrum of the leadership team.
Finally, this employee retention trainer told him what I did for a living and that I talk C.R.A.P. (Caring, Respect, Appreciation and Praise) to companies all over North America. I told him he was blessed to have an owner and boss like he did. His immediate response was, “I know.” When you give people C.R.A.P. they know it even if they have never heard of C.R.A.P. Why? Because C.R.A.P. Works!
If you want me to teach your leadership team how to Give Their Employees C.R.A.P. and lower your employee turnover, drop me a message on LinkedIn or reach out to me on my website at http://www.jeffkortes.com
