As soon as new employees accept their jobs, they think about leaving. It's human nature. Once you get people in the door, you need to give them a reason to keep coming back. Otherwise, your company could end up being just another line on their resume.
People need to feel they are making a contribution, or they will go somewhere else. They need to feel valued. They need to be passionate about what they do. So they must be in positions to make an impact. If you really want people to feel like they matter, you must find ways to make them matter. If a person's strengths and job description don't align, you should be creative and make adjustments. Adjust as people grow, and they will grow with you.
All employees want to feel that somebody is looking out for them and their career. Every employee needs a mentor. Show them the path to go to the next level. Take the time to give employees feedback. Do it on a daily basis, not just in their six-month review. And be generous with compliments. It only takes a few seconds to say something that can make someone's day.
We invest a lot in our people so they can be better at what they do. Many companies provide training within job function, and that's important. But we try to take it one step further and include the entire company. This year, everyone who works at Barkley must successfully complete the interactive training program we call "Digital Ninja." It's a fun way for people from different departments to bond behind a common goal.
We also do off-site retreats where five groups of five people have 24 hours to come up with creative ideas to solve a business problem. These sessions are called "Blurring the Lines," and we invite people from every department to participate.
At Barkley, we believe a great idea can come from anywhere. To show that we really mean what we say, we close the office every year for two days and put on a Creativity Symposium. Every one of our partners is invited—we even bring in a temp to answer the phones. The symposium is in its fifth year, and we've attracted inspiring speakers from all over the country. It's a fun, memorable way to bring people together in a way that differentiates Barkley from our competition.
It's important to connect with your employees. Otherwise, they will feel isolated and they will leave. We not only have annual meetings, but we also have quarterly meetings so we can share how we're doing. We also have monthly staff meetings where we get together to share success stories and show work. We even created an internal online community for employees to converse.
As CEO, I figure that I work with about 50 people at Barkley on a regular basis. That leaves about 250 people I need to find a way to connect with. So I created an internal blog called "Lint Tray." I also send out handwritten thank-you notes every month. I know who deserves a pat on the back because I ask senior management to identify those people who have gone above and beyond.
Little things matter, too.
Competitive salary, benefits and advancement opportunities are always important in employee retention. But I've found it's the little things that can add up to a lot. If employees find that you foster a fun environment, then they will want to stick around.
Culture is key. We have a cool space that inspires all who come up with ideas for a living. And we keep it fun with such diversions as a pool table, ping-pong, shuffleboard, asteroids and beer taps. On a sunny day, we cook burgers and brats on our rooftop deck and invite our partners to a free lunch. We even designate one day a year as a "kidnap." On those days, we shut the office down and employees go to an undisclosed location (like a bowling alley or the horse races) for a day of fun.
With so many employment choices available these days, it's no surprise that retention can be a challenge. The truth is that you can do everything right and sometimes people will still leave. But don't fret. Turnover isn't always a bad thing. Every time somebody walks out the door, another door opens. Business depends on fresh thinking, and turnover has a way of keeping things fresh.
