The jobs market is wobbly. There’s uncertainty on all sides. But one thing is clear: hanging on to good people matters now more than ever.

Despite the huge progress in AI and tech in general, people are still what drive a business forward. And yet, week after week, we meet business leaders who say they value their teams but don’t show it. Not through support, not through clarity, not through proper recognition.

People want to feel seen. Heard. Valued. If they don’t, they switch off. Or they leave.

The most common signs? Quiet disengagement, employee ‘churn’ and low performance. Good employees going through the motions. Or worse, walking out the door.  Not just for a new job, but a better role that’s right for them. In the same way a role in a play has purpose and meaning, people want to know their work fits into something bigger in helping the company achieve its goals. This is happening now, even in a job market where jobs are being shredded more than created at present.

It’s not hard to get this right but a business needs to want to get it right. We’ve built these ideas into our ‘5 Steps to Exceptional Growth’ programme, which has helped hundreds of businesses develop and grow rapidly and, as part of this, keep and grow the people they can’t afford to lose.

If you lead an SME – or a team within one – ask yourself:

• How can I express and illustrate to all employees that they play a key part in both the present and the future of the business?
• How can I show them that they matter and that I want to help them thrive
• Are you aware of how they’re doing – really doing – day to day?
• Do they understand the value of what they bring?

• Have you told them you need them?

Identify your GOOD people – the ones you want to keep and show them you do.  We can help.  Our ‘Retention and Development’ programme is built for this exact purpose and if you’d like to talk through what’s going on in your team, we’re always happy to meet or chat.

You can download the ‘5 Steps to Exceptional Growth’ here – or book a time to talk here.

The best people always have options. Make sure staying with you is the right one.

David Turner
MD Tinderbox and Director of The Growth Experts