The talent that forms the organizational network is the fuel that drives innovation and growth on the path to success. For this reason, companies that dominate the market know the importance of planning, designing and implementing a powerful employee retention strategie that ensure that their best professionals will remain by their side for a long time.
Now, coffee for everyone does not serve to retain talent. In this sense, it is important to know what employees are looking for and what their expectations are in order to meet them, thus guaranteeing their commitment to the organization.
How do you know what employees need? How do you know what type of employee retention plan will give the best results?
If you want to know an easy, simple and effective way to get to know your team, keep reading!
The importance of knowing your team to create effective employee retention strategy
The first thing to remember is that each employee is unique, with individual aspirations, goals and expectations. Just as no two companies are alike, no two employees want exactly the same thing.
So how do we address this diversity of needs and desires to ensure genuine engagement? This is where a simple and effective approach comes into play: employee surveys.
Employee surveys are a window through which you can obtain a clear and direct view of what your employees value, want and expect, thus collecting valuable data that should be the core of your loyalty strategies.
Do your employees value work flexibility? Perhaps they are looking for opportunities for professional development and growth? Or maybe they would like more recognition for their work? These are just some of the questions that employee surveys help you solve.
Once you have this information, you can begin to design and implement employee retention plans that align with your team’s needs and wants.
If used well, surveys will help you create a work environment that meets the aspirations of your team, promoting their long-term commitment.
Transforming Information into Action
It is important to emphasize that collecting information is not enough. For employee surveys to be truly effective, you must be willing to take action based on the results you get.
In other words: you must be willing to make changes, sometimes big ones, in your organization.
This can be a challenging process, but it is a crucial step to retaining your most valuable staff. Remember, people want to work in places where they feel heard, valued and cared for .
By showing that you are willing to act on your employees’ feedback, you’re sending a powerful message: you value and respect your team. And this is already a first step to retain talent.
How to Turn Survey Data into an Effective Employee Retention Strategy
Continuing with the above, creating an effective employee retention strategy based on survey data doesn’t have to be a daunting task.
To demonstrate this, here is a simple step-by-step that you can follow to convert survey information into actual actions that encourage engagement.
1. Design and Launch your Employee Survey
The first step is to design a survey that addresses the key aspects you want to explore. It could be job satisfaction, the work environment or opportunities for professional growth, among others.
Be sure to ask clear and specific questions that allow employees to express their honest opinions and suggestions.
2. Collect and Analyze Data
Once employees have completed the survey, it’s time to collect and analyze the data. Observe trends and patterns. Are there areas in which employees are particularly satisfied or dissatisfied? Are there suggestions or comments that are frequently repeated?
These patterns are what will guide the roadmap to create the best loyalty strategy that suits them.
3. Identify Areas for Improvement
Based on the survey results, note areas that require improvement. They can be tangible aspects such as salary and benefits, or intangible aspects such as corporate culture and recognition.
Each company is unique, so you must keep in mind that what works for one, may not work for you. That’s why it’s so important to study your own workforce data. That’s where you have the answers you need!
4. Develop an Action Plan
Once areas for improvement are identified, develop an action plan. This should include what changes will be implemented, who will be responsible for implementing them, and when they will be made.
5. Communicate and Implement the Plan
Communicate the action plan to your employees, making sure to highlight that it is based on the feedback they provided. All you have to do now is put the plan into action.
This is a crucial step as it shows employees that you value their feedback and you are committed to improving.
6. Track and Adjust Your Plan
After you implement your changes, follow up to see how they are working. You can do this through a new survey or through individual or team meetings.
And be careful, companies are living organisms, so you should make sure to monitor the results periodically to identify any changes, and thus make adjustments as necessary.
Final thoughts
There are many companies that face high employee turnover. The flight of talent is a hard blow, not only for business growth, but also for brand image.
Luckily, there are simple and highly effective ways to improve employee loyalty and engagement.
In this context, the use of employee surveys is a practical and 100% actionable solution. Yes, it means listening to your employees, acting on their feedback, and being willing to adapt and change. But the results are well worth the effort.
So, if you’re looking for a way to keep your team engaged and satisfied, don’t overlook this resource. It’s the key to creating a work environment that your employees want to stay in, today and in the future.
