As your startup grows and matures to company status things will inevitably change. It’s the nature of business growth: Standardized processes, HR on a hiring spree, and the founding team less accessible than before.
Periods of business growth are highly critical times. And it takes more than subsidized gym memberships, dress-down Fridays, and flexible work hours to keep your best people on board. Here are three suggestions on how to keep them
1. Build Strong Bonds With Every Employee
You know you’ve lost touch with your employees when you share an elevator, and all you hear is crickets. Worse still, you can’t even say for sure if they are part of your company. As the founder/CEO, make it a point to catch up with employees from all levels of the company. Choose randomly and commit to two lunch catch-ups per week. Get a feel for what moves and inspires your people, and which roadblocks prevent them from doing a job that they’re proud of.
When you make yourself available in that way and hear about pain points and aspirations firsthand, it does two things: It breaks down hierarchical barriers, and it strengthens relationships. And people who feel that their opinions are welcomed and their stories matter are much more likely to address critical issues before they get out of hand.
2. Appoint a People Advocate
Rarely do employees walk confidently into HR’s office and report bullies and dubious business practices, or negotiate a personalized career plan. Often, it is the fear of repercussions or a lack of trust that has people take the “easy” way out which is to resign and move on. If you are keen to keep your best people on board, then appoint a People Advocate and that will be his/her job description:
3. Collaborate Across Departments
Burnout is a condition that people are familiar with. That is concerning because boredom at work is just as harmful to an employee’s performance, self-esteem and job satisfaction. Change the seating arrangements in such a way that project manager, product developer, sales rep, and accountant share a workstation. When you break up the chain like that, it opens the floor to new close collaborations, knowledge sharing, and sympathy for other people’s pain points. Close ties with coworkers across departments are critical if your team is to lead your industry.
