The absolute most expensive thing within a business is labor and training. It costs a good amount of money to get an entry level staff member to the acceptable level of a seasoned staff member. This training is not free. The last thing you want to happen after investing all this money into someone is to have them leave the organization. So, here are 5 Keys to Retaining Staff. 

1. The first key is to have clear expectations and job descriptions. While this sounds easy, it’s the most common mistake of a small business owner. We tend to expect far too much out of a team member simply because we are small business. Develop job descriptions and positions so that entry level people have a clear idea of what they are supposed to do when they clock in.
2. The second key is having a ladder to climb. The ability to grow within an organization is what takes something from being a job to becoming a career. Tie your ladder in with your job descriptions and suddenly you have an organization that cultivates growth. Be sure you set those clear expectations and create structure for your team. Trust me, they will love you for it!
3. The third key is to avoid the IF/THEN principle as much as possible. This is the principle that IF they do something THEN they get something. This is an old school way of thinking and doesn’t cultivate rock stars. It creates people that do what it takes to get what they want. Instead, reward good behavior and discipline bad behavior. These rewards should not be expected or predictable.
4. The fourth key is to catch people doing something right. This is a principle I learned early in my career with the original book, “The One Minute Manager” written in 1982. The whole first week that someone works you should be reinforcing good behavior. This is a refreshing experience for all staff. Imagine coming into work and knowing you are doing things right…what a concept.
5. The fifth and final key is to act human. As leaders or owners, we tend to act invisible. We often put out the persona that we can do no wrong. This creates a barrier between you and your people. The biggest step to team cultivation is when a leader can admit that they did something wrong or that they are human. This creates a bond within the team that it is ok to make mistakes. The most important part is a very simple but powerful word…ownership. When you take ownership, your team will follow.

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