Losing a great employee can wreak havoc on a business. There are ways to ensure you don’t lose your best employees, but that starts before they have decided to give their notice. Sure you could offer a raise or match the benefits their new employer is offering, but if you don’t know the real reason they want to leave — it’s usually not always about the money — they will remain unhappy and will likely still look to leave.
In my coaching business I’ve worked with clients who shared, “I don’t want to train my employees in new technologies or offer continuing education because if I do, they will quit and I will have lost that investment.” Truly? Keeping your employees at their current level and never offering a change to move, change and grow will keep them?
Don’t be short-sighted. Don’t stifle growth of an employee and his or her skills because you fear they may “abandon you.” If they were going to leave they will regardless of the additional training. At that point, chances are they have already been scouring the want ads. Training and the chance for advancement may keep them with you longer –look at the flipside of that coin.
Don’t stifle a great employees’ desire for self-improvement. Your business and your employees performance will be of benefit to you. Also, you may keep a superstar if you encourage him or her.
Don’t Lose Your Best Employees
Offer feedback. Do your employees know if they are performing at or above what’s expected? If you don’t tell them, they won’t know. Schedule a time each month — at least — to discuss performance. Praise wins and offer constructive criticism.
Don’t overwork them. You may be doing the same work with a small staff but that doesn’t mean you can expect them to pick up all of the slack. Don’t make your employees feel they need to be available 24/7 — unless they are being well-compensated for that. Give them time off. Let them have a personal life. They may just work harder and smarter if they have time off.
Don’t promise what you can’t deliver. Don’t hire an employee and promise them the world if you know that isn’t going to happen. You will have a dissatisfied employee and they won’t trust anything you say in the future. AND they will likely leave your firm.
Don’t keep the big picture a secret. Share your vision. Even if your employee isn’t involved in the big picture, feeling like he is in the know is an empowering feeling. And truly, why not involve everyone?
Don’t stifle creativity. Ask for input. Listen to creative ideas. Have a suggestion box and truly pay attention.
Do your employees have a reason to stay? Are there more reasons for them to be inching toward the door? If you don’t know or if you know they are thinking of leaving take steps to keep those valued employees today!
There are many ways you can reduce stress and as an entrepreneur, you need to reduce stress to keep yourself healthy and you also need to stay healthy to keep your business running. Many solopreneurs cannot afford to take time off.
5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Reduce Stress
We have some ways to help you reduce your stress. There is no one-size-fits all, but these may help.
Write down what’s bothering you. Sometimes the simple act of writing it down will take away the power the stressful situation had over you. You can take time every day to write down what is stressing you out. You can write down ways in which you could address that situation. Writing it down may also help you brainstorm ways to eradicate it.
Talk with someone. Talk with a friend, family member, colleague or a mental health professional. Stress can lead to suicidal thoughts and the isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to more stress and higher suicide rates. When you talk with someone you are also taking away the power the stressful situation had over you and an outside opinion might help you see a solution you didn’t see on your own.
Get moving. When you’re having emotional or mental stress, taking a walk or meditating or walking the dog can help alleviate it. You may not find a solution to your stress, but moving will help release endorphins and a 15-minute run (or walk) will clear your head and help you sleep better at night.
Find comedy in your life. What is your favorite funny movie or sit com? When is the last time you indulged in it? Take time to simply laugh. Laughing also releases endorphins and tension.
Celebrate the small wins. You don’t need to conquer the highest mountain to celebrate. Walking up a small hill or completing a small task is reason for celebration. Clear your desk. Clean up your computer desktop. Any small win is cause for celebration and that can help you feel more accomplished and this is a great feeling when you feel you’re simply spinning your wheels. Take the wins where you can.
What do you do when the stress becomes too much? Reach out to a friend. Don’t go it alone.
Are you hearing crickets when you send out an e-newsletter or e-blast to your list? If that’s the case, why do you continue to send one? We have advice on how to get your emails opened and prompt action from the recipients.
We’ve talked in the past about how your list is one of your most important business assets. That is more true than ever with the coronavirus pandemic and the looming election taking up most of our social media feeds.
How To Get Your Emails Opened
If your open rates and click-through rates are low, try some of these steps to amp up the opens, clicks and follow through on your calls to action. Know that subject lines matter – this is the first impression someone on your list sees.
Get noticed in the busy inbox. Your email subject line should be description enough to prompt action. If your subject line is boring or if it tells the entire story, why open? The subject line should be enough of an attention grabber that the recipient needs to know more.
Does your content lend itself to statistics? “More then 80% of all businesses with mailing lists stay afloat!” (this is made up, but if you’re a business owner, wouldn’t you open it? Statistics also help build your credibility – a reader will think, “wow this person knows his stuff!”
Don’t reuse a subject line. If you had a subject line that garnered eyes on the content and clicks, it may be tempting to repeat and reuse – don’t. Your readers will get onto you and eventually they won’t open.
Show your personality. Speak right to the reader. Don’t offer your success in the subject line. “I used this and won the lottery!” Who cares. “If you use this you, too could win the lottery!” Well, now I am listening.
FOMO is real. The fear of missing out, limited quantities, limited spaces and deadlines prompt action. Again, don’t overuse this because it’s like crying wolf. After a while, your FOMO headlines won’t prompt action – well maybe other than deleting it.
Subject lines matter. Your content matters. Don’t use a sensational headline thinking that it will prompt an open and then give content that doesn’t match the headline. Bait and switch subject lines and content will see you in the trash can.
Coronavirus has meant many people are working from home. In this case, you’re wondering how to create compelling content when you’re working from home and might not have much interaction with the “outside world.” We understand. We have put together a checklist of ways you can stay in touch, create content and remain relevant.
How To Create Compelling Content When You’re Working From Home
Consider these strategies
Find a new strategy. Because the world has changed, your thinking has to change. You need to try to embrace the changes that coronavirus has wrought and realize you can’t change the world, so you need to change your thinking. Don’t think about — I don’t have any way to be creative when I am stuck at home. In fact, think — It is a challenge I can overcome; creating content in lockdown. Consider that you might be the only link your audience has to the outside world.
Create new content. How about a podcast? Ever thought of trying your hand at turning your blog posts into infographics? How about a video blog aka vlog? Go live on Facebook or Instagram. People are connecting with content in new and different ways and podcasts are HUGE.
Use the proper tools. You don’t have to spend thousands on new technology — microphones, cameras, etc. — but you do want to have equipment that allows you to be seen and heard that makes you look and sound like a professional. Ask colleagues what equipment they are using and consider making the investment in yourself and your business.
If you’re struggling to create new content — and we get it — repurpose your old content. Turn a blog post into a video or a podcast. Rewrite old content with a new spin.
Ask for help. If you have a colleague or a business acquaintance in a different, but a complementary field, do a blog post trade-off. A benefit to guest posting — for both of you — is that your content and your business gets in front of a brand new audience and that is a win all day.
We know the coronavirus lockdown is causing stress and anxiety in many people and in many business owners. Connect with others via Zoom and have or host a virtual coffee hour or happy hour. Connecting with others will help you get through this odd time in our history.
