Talent Retention: How to engage your Team?

During last week I had two experienced directors asking me how to make employees engaged, motivated and excited about their job. To start with, I asked if they themselves are engaged and motivated?

I thought that I'll share here what I've learned over the years. Many write about gadgets, training programs, flexible working hours, talent platforms and while it's quite important, that is not the essence. From my experience it's actually much simpler than it seems. It could start with few questions:

What makes you motivated? How would you like to be treated to feel engaged? What would you like to hear, do or see?

It all starts with a VISION

As a Leader, you want to have a clear picture in your mind for the end result, understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. You want to believe it's possible. You don't have to know how to accomplish it.

A LEADER'S PASSION for the vision is the medium for spreading it

When you have a passion for what you do, you speak about it, you think about it, you get ideas about it, you "act" it, you are a living example. This spreads to your Team, starting from a short, informal comment by a coffee machine, to a speech you give to them.

The next step is to have a COMMON, AMBITIOUS and TANGIBLE GOAL

Walking and dreaming all days won't work for long. There needs to be also a tangible, ambitious and common goal, so your Team could organize themselves around it. It should be a clear milestone towards the vision.

Then you want to EMPOWER your Team

Involve your Team, share challenges, be honest, ask for help, celebrate success.

Believe in people and tell them that. Give them an opportunity to flourish. Guide them if needed and remember, they won't always do things your way, but your way is not necessarily the only way. Give them feedback, both constructive and positive.

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I wonder what's your experience? Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.