Attracting and Keeping Star Players

 Here's What Top Companies Are Doing Now To Attract and Retain Top Talent

Leadership is a big job, and it's not for the faint of heart! Having to fill a role is the last thing you need, as you have so much on your plate right now.

At the moment, it can be difficult to hire. Whether you're hiring for a new position or backfilling a position, you always run into the same issues.

TIME.

Time to fill when the position opens.

The current workload for existing team members has increased.

The time it takes you to figure out how to maintain day-to-day tasks when you have less than a full staff.

MONEY.

Compensation figures are on the rise daily.

It is typically unnecessary to spend money on contingent recruiters and job boards because they are one and the same, since your recruiter will definitely post your job description on multiple job boards, so you are always looking at the same few candidates.

And you are PAYING for that service.

And most importantly, YOUR REPUTATION.

A leader's hardest challenge is not reaching goals with the staff he or she has in place.

Furthermore, you have to evaluate a stranger and place your trust in them to achieve company goals. Unless they do, you'll look bad.

Hiring can be stressful when you need to hire someone who can work well with the current team and achieve your department's goals. An assessment of your current team is always a good idea even before considering new hires. We've all had them.

Great employees are top performers, and those we may have inherited along the way aren't necessarily STAR players, but you don't have a good reason to let them go.

However, sometimes you can't help but wonder, "Are they doing all that they can to help you reach department goals, YOUR professional goals?"

You deserve to have a good team supporting you because not doing so will negatively impact your career. I'm sure you can relate if you have ever had to report less than stellar numbers to your CEO or Investor.

Keeping the Good Ones- Just How Do You Do It?

Unfortunately, most employees don't like their current jobs. There are 84% of job seekers who are willing to talk with recruiters about new opportunities, and whether you like it or not, this includes your current staff.

It has nothing to do with compensation in most cases, and they'll consider relocating to a new position if they feel unsatisfied. One of the major problems employees have in their current position is that they don't feel appreciated.

As the leader of your flock, you should take the time to talk with your employees about their goals, upcoming projects, and even their family is one of the best ways to avoid losing good employees.

Making It Personal Means You Care

Don't wait until the job market is booming to appreciate them. You don't want them to pick up the phone and talk to a recruiter.

It won't cost you a dime to make your employees feel valued and appreciated, but it could save you a couple of dollars. Give them the opportunity to vent any frustrations or celebrate their successes for an uninterrupted hour. This hour is better spent while your employee is still in your employ rather than in an exit interview. Ask them for referrals as well.

"STAR players want to work with other star players."

It's important to take everything in stride since a little investment now keeps you from paying the price when you have to replace your STAR talent after they leave for another organization.

Alternatively, if you don't agree with this or think that it won't affect you, then you may already have a team filled with players who don't matter too much to you, and as such, you should be anticipating they will need to be replaced anyway.

Even if they're a C player, they'll get picked up because most companies are not recruiting A and B players.

Here is where you can set yourself apart from the competition. You can have a team of A-players with potential hires waiting in the wings.

The steps are below.

Create an engaging work environment

Paying competitively

Invest in reorganizing your recruitment process

By meeting these three goals, you will reduce turnover, prevent headhunters from entering your company, and KEEP your employees.

Headhunters will attempt to recruit your employees more often when you foster a rockstar culture.

Think about it.