Tackling Employee Turnover: Effective Strategies for Managers

Employee turnover remains a significant challenge for organizations worldwide. Gallup reports that 42% of turnover cases are preventable, highlighting the need for companies to reevaluate their engagement strategies and leadership methods.

As a leader, you have many pressing priorities, and the thought of putting more energy into your employees may seem like a task to cut in order to maintain your day-to-day responsibilities. The reality is—and this is something we witness daily in our work with clients—that it truly doesn't take much time or energy to make a lasting impact on an employee's experience. These efforts not only improve turnover rates, but mitigate the financial costs of turnover, enhance team cohesion, and boost productivity as well.?

Starting Point for Managers

One of the main reasons employees leave, as revealed by Gallup, is the lack of meaningful discussions with their managers: "45% of voluntary leavers noted that in the three months before they quit, their managers made little effort to proactively discuss their job satisfaction."

The only thing worse than giving employees negative attention is giving them none at all. Ignoring employees is detrimental to engagement and retention. Conversely, meaningful conversations can significantly influence an employee's decision to stay, showing that you care about their experience. When managers listen to feedback, take action, and follow up, the impact is substantial.

Key Strategies to Prevent Turnover

When considering how to engage and retain employees, it's important not to fall into the trap of relying solely on perks and external rewards. These offer temporary satisfaction but aren't long-term solutions. Instead, cultivating a healthy and dynamic workplace culture is key.

At CultureID, we tackle employee turnover with a nuanced approach based on scientific research, addressing the root causes of turnover with these strategies:

1. Leadership Training: Invest in leadership development focusing on empathy, communication, and psychological safety. CultureID has live in-person and virtual training options as well as self-paced online training.?
2. Real-time Feedback: Use employee feedback to guide managers’ efforts to create a positive work environment. CultureID's preset and custom surveys provide invaluable insights into the specific needs of employees with accompanying action plans to create the right changes.?
3. Open Communication: Foster a culture of open communication between employees and managers. CultureID follows a rinse and repeat approach to keep the channels of communication open between all levels of employees and leadership.?

The Role of Culture in Retention

Modern leadership is less about organizational structure and more about the experience of its people. Creating a culture where employees feel valued, understood, and connected to the mission is crucial—not just for productivity, but for fostering a resilient and engaging workplace where employees are eager to contribute.

To learn more about creating an engaging and high-performing workplace or to explore our employee feedback platform, visit the CultureID website or contact us today.