5 Ways You’re Driving Away Your Best Employees

Losing a top team member can feel a lot like getting dumped. It hurts, it’s often unexpected, and it makes you question whether there’s anything you could’ve done differently to stop losing employees.

The truth is that it takes more than free coffee and office snacks to get your employees to stay put. First and foremost, if you don’t pay a competitive rate, you’re at a major disadvantage. In fact, paying employees less can actually cost you more.

Beyond that, here are five ways you could be unknowingly driving away your best employees.

1. You fail to create purpose for your employees

Employees want more out of their jobs than just a paycheck, they also want to feel a sense of purpose. Gen Z and Millennial employees are especially seeking meaning, autonomy, and a feeling of alignment with company values. Work with your employees to create meaningful goals that allow them to see how their work impacts the company’s big picture. Ask them what areas they’re particularly proud of or interested in and incorporate those into a formal goal setting process.

2. You don’t check in with your employees enough

You don’t want to be a micromanager, but you also shouldn’t wait too long before checking in with your employees. That means more than once a year at an annual performance review. Ongoing check-ins show employees that you’re invested in their work and reassures them that they’re on the right track (and if not, gives you an opportunity to adjust). It also allows you to be privy to any warning signs that they might be looking to quit. Aim to check in with your employees at least once a week, whether it’s a one-on-one standing meeting or 10 minutes out of your day to informally catch up.

3. You don’t offer opportunities for professional growth

Career growth is one of the most important ways managers can support employee retention. Sure, not all companies have an expansive corporate ladder or the ability to offer traditional advancement opportunities like promotions, but there are other ways to invest in the professional development of your team. Empower them to take on projects outside their normal scope of work, send them to training or upskilling classes, have them attend work-related workshops and conferences, or encourage employee volunteering to develop leadership skills.

4. You have no idea who your employees are

You may know your assistant Jane is a recent college grad and a Microsoft Excel wizard, but what else do you know about her? Knowing your employees beyond their roles at work can have real payoffs for retention. Maybe Jane is also a single mom who could really benefit from a flexible work schedule. Or maybe your other employee Jack does graphic design as a hobby and would love to put his skills to use on an upcoming project. This doesn’t mean you need to (or should) know every detail of your employees’ personal lives, but it could be the difference between keeping them or losing employees to another company.

5. You’re holding onto too many bad apples

If just one bad apple can spoil the barrel, imagine the effect that several bad apples can have on your team. If your best employees are picking up the slack for their lazy colleagues, getting rewarded the same as underperforming teammates, or working alongside toxic employees, they’ll likely head for the exit door. Great employees know their worth, and employers need to realize the cost of their problematic employees before it’s too late.

In a labor market rich with opportunities, holding on to your best employees has never been more important. Employees have options when it comes to finding work, and managers need to be sure they aren’t inadvertently causing their best employees to leave.