Retention! Part Two – Clarity

In my continuing search for answers to the “retention crisis,” I was struck by a recent comment on the subject from one of my clients.  “Be clear!  Ambiguity is expensive.”

This reminded me of a 360 Feedback Report I once did.  

I was impressed by the deep loyalty and commitment that was shown throughout the interviews. While the manager was not perfect, it made no difference.  Her people said they had and would happily work for her for their entire careers.  Her secret? She provided clarity.  Clarity about whom the organization served, its core strength, how success would be measured, and what actions must be taken.  

Why is this so powerful?  Because one of the things we all share as human beings is a fear of the unknown.  And a leader who can transform our fear into confidence makes her people feel more secure.  How simple.  How powerful.  How critical for retention.

In Part Three of this Retention series, I’ll look at the power of attention.