Best tools for employee retention

BW Online Bureau Apr 26, 2018

One of the key challenges for leaders in today’s disruptive business ecosystem is to know how to lead their organisation and keep it ahead of the competition. They ought to be visionaries charged with steering their company around pitfalls and challenges. A leader’s ability to think wisely and dispassionately is the key to being a great leader Also, thinking objectively is not just a skill, but an obligation to the people he leads. A leader understands that a problem well defined is half-solved and a critical thinker recognizes that. In tough situations, they know that all problems cannot be fixed at once and hence their inclination to define problems accurately enables them to prioritize ruthlessly. They try to solve 20% of problems that addresses 80% of pain. They understand that “why” comes before “what”, “how” and “when”, especially when solving the problems or taking important decisions. There’s no doubt that a good leader is the driving force behind the success of an organization. Some are born to lead while some must be honed into being one. A leader can make or break the organization. A good leader is someone who has a clear vision to lead the people to achieve organizational goals. In fact, it is the most fundamental role of a leader to define the organizational goal, create strategies, take critical decisions, work with people, and execute these plans to drive growth. It’s a tough job to do!

Role of a leader

From my own experience as a leader of my organization I can say everybody envies the title and position, and I bet a lot of them even wish to be in my role, but honestly only a few are cut for a job like this that never ceases even for a moment. You have to be not just good at your work, but also work under tremendous pressure. You have to be available24/7 and are always on the go. There really is never a dull moment in my job. Of course, it has its own perks and incentives too, but nothing comes easy.

As a leader I have grown to see three most important tasks essential for this role – creating a vision, setting up goals, and providing strategic direction. A vision simply helps in knowing where the organization is heading and what’s its purpose. The next challenge is to convert this vision into defined goals. The third challenge is to provide strategic direction to achieve the goals and make the vision into a reality. The weight of the entire organization is on your decisions. So, you have to be absolutely sure about what you’re doing.

Powerful leaders know when to talk and when to listen. They obviously should be effective communicators who are able to clearly and succinctly explain to their employees everything from organizational goals to specific tasks. If people don’t understand or aren’t aware of their leader’s expectations, they will fall short, so the more specific the leader is, the better it is for the organisation

Balancing crisis

A leader when faced with a crisis will probably face the situation differently than in a normal situation. A crisis is a true test of leadership skills. In difficult situations I maintain a positive attitude and keep my cool. I don’t let emotions come in my way of making decision no matter how tough it may seem. I, along with my team of experts, evaluate the situation thoroughly before arriving at a solution. Of course, in all this chaos speed is critical.

How does a leader motivate his employees?

I believe in leading through example and not through my title or executive position. I believe in being a mentor to my employees and providing the right opportunities for their career growth. I feel learning should never stop, and I encourage my employees to do the same by providing learning and development programs. If employees have the passion to grow and have the right skills, then there’s no stopping for them. They can move laterally or vertically to pursue their career. Our employees are the real talent that takes the organization to new heights. I believe in putting people first.

Employee engagement

Employees are the foundation on which the organization is built. Without the right people, it’s nearly impossible to run the business. Unfortunately, it’s becoming difficult to keep the right talent on board in this growing economy where good employees can easily find a new job.

An engaged employee feels a strong emotional connection to his workplace. They are passionate about their work, give their maximum efforts, and hence are more productive, which in turn helps the business grow. On the other hand, disengaged employees are not productive enough and may even cause harm to the organization. So undoubtedly employee engagement is extremely important to an organization. Employees are an asset and keeping them engaged through different employee engagement activities and programs are indispensable. A happy bunch of employees means more productivity, more growth and more prosperity and cheer all around.