How to retain STAR employees: part 3

It’s something unseen, yet palpable. That “je ne sais quoi” successful businesses have which brings the best employees through their doors and keeps them there: Atmosphere. In parts one and two of this series, we’ve talked about the importance of managing “Self” and finding the best “Team,” but what happens next? Creating and maintaining and healthy, vibrant, high-energy atmosphere can seem daunting, but following these key components will set you on the path for success.

Take ownership of the atmosphere

It’s impossible to control every aspect of your company’s atmosphere and “force” qualities which just aren’t there. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take ownership of developing and encouraging an environment where the best employees can thrive. Bringing in the right team members in the first place will instantly improve the atmosphere, especially if you hire people who are smarter than you. While some find this intimidating, the best leaders empower their team to take over additional responsibilities so they can focus on other pressing issues.

Encourage adaptation

Much like the leadership team should take ownership of the atmosphere, team members should be allowed to adapt and make changes in what they individually own. If you’ve hired Hungry, Humble, Smart employees (as advised in “The Ideal Team Player” by Patrick Lencioni), you’ll potentially be flooded with ideas. This is a good thing. Leaders need to allow their Hungry people with great ideas to be considered in making positive change. If you don’t, you will lose very smart and driven employees. Encouraging adaptation energizes your team, and objectives will most likely be met beyond your expectations.

Establish safety

“Only when we feel we are in a Circle of Safety will we pull together as a unified team.” This pearl of wisdom from Simon Sinek is often overlooked or misunderstood. The Circle of Safety is the glue that holds everyone together and shields your team from external negative energy that might be going around in the office. Creating this safe place isn’t an overnight process, though. It takes time. Invest in your team and spend time listening and being emotionally understanding. Leaders with a high EQ, or emotional intelligence, can implement radical candor, or the ability to say anything related to the vision to build trust within your team.

Now that you’ve learned about managing Self, Team and Atmosphere, we’ll soon dive into Recharging in Part Four of How to Retain STAR Employees. At ConnectWise, we obsess with your success, and are here to help!