There’s no doubt about it–the past 15 months have been filled with lots of uncertainty. While there is still uncertainty ahead, people are feeling a little more stable than during the pandemic and quarantine life.
Dr. Anthony C. Klotz, an Associate Professor of Management at Texas A&M University recently told Bloomberg Business week that “the great resignation” is coming. He describes a tsunami of resignations coming in the next 6-12 months from two groups of people. The first group of people are those who now realize they have the freedom and the ability to continue to work from home. The second group of people are those who have been frustrated with their job but afraid to look for a new job.
So, as a business owner and leader, what can you do in order to decrease the intensity and impact of this resignation tsunami for your organization?
- Shore up your superstars. Make sure your superstars know they are valued and appreciated. Are you giving them opportunities to be empowered to their highest capabilities? Be their active partner in professional development. Create a development path for each team member. Start with an assessment of their soft skill competencies. Understand their areas of interest and what motivates them. Determine what is needed for even greater success and provide training/coaching in those areas.
- Take advantage of transition. If you have an open position, do everything you can to be the most attractive opportunity on the block. The market will be competitive. It’s your job to ensure people are attracted to your organization above all the other possible jobs available.
- Ensure your low performers are on track to become your star performers. If they are not, is it time to cut them loose? Remember, their ideal job is out there and likely available right now too.
By taking the right steps now, you can be proactive in preventing the tsunami from swamping your organization. As I’ve said before, the People First method works in boom and bust economies, high unemployment or low. . Your resiliency and hard work will pay off in the long run!
