Are Your Best Performers Searching for Greener Pastures? Four Troubling Warning Signs to Watch Out For

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March 14, 2018


Employees Leaving

It is an undeniable aspect of entrepreneurial life and human resources management - the best performers in any organization are also the most likely to seek out greener pastures when the opportunity arises. Sometimes these high performing individuals feel that they are undervalued by their current bosses. In other cases, these talented men and women are looking for higher paychecks and higher levels of responsibility. In other cases, they leave due to a convergence of many different factors. But no matter why they leave, their loss is felt deeply by the company.

Every business owner and human resources professional knows that it costs far more to replace a departed worker than to keep the most talented team members onboard. So how can entrepreneurs and business owners keep their best workers where they are, and what can they do to stave off the pending losses?

The best way for business owners and entrepreneurs to keep their best workers is to value the input they provide. This is not always an easy thing to do, especially in a busy workplace, but it is a very important part of successful management. Beyond those common-sense steps, business owners, entrepreneurs and human resources managers can also watch out for signs that their best workers are considering a job change. If they can spot the search for greener pastures early enough, they may be able to make the pastures at their own companies greener and more enticing. Here are some signs the best performers at your place of business are looking for a change.

A Sudden Interest in Professional Social Media Sites
Building a solid network has always been a critical part of successful job seeking, and these days much of that networking takes place online. Professional social media sites like LinkedIn can be particularly valuable to the casual job seeker, since these sites allow the currently employed to put out subtle feelers and see what jobs may be available.

If your top performers who previously showed little interest in these sites start creating detailed profiles, you have reason to worry. If you really want to retain these top performers, it may be time to step up your game to keep them where they are.

The Profligate Use of Vacation Time
The use of vacation time and other time off is another sign entrepreneurs, business owners and human resources managers should watch out for. The employee in question could just be taking a mental health day, but they might also be meeting with a recruiter or attending a job interview.

A change in vacation patterns could be a worrying trend and a sign your best workers are headed out the door. You obviously cannot ask your employees why they want to take a vacation day, but watching out for other signs of unhappiness could be to your benefit. If you really want to keep those workers onboard, it might make sense to look for creative ways to reward them and thank them for their hard work.

Office Gossip
While listening to the rumor mill is not always a smart thing to do, office gossip could tell you a lot about the intentions of your best workers. When top performers are unhappy, they are unlikely to keep their feelings to themselves.

You obviously do not want to set up a spy network in the office, but keeping your eyes and ears open is always a smart thing to do. The more you know about the office and its operations, the easier it will be to retain your best workers and keep them on the job.

Finding the best workers and hiring top performers is a struggle every business owner faces. Whether you are setting up a brand new company or revamping an old one, the people you hire will make a huge difference. Your ability to retain the best performers is a real competitive advantage, and one you should protect with everything you have.


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