This is a guest article from Tara Powers, CEO of Powers Resource Center.
The Great Resignation is a new reality that is driven by workplace cultures that are unhealthy, imbalanced, and even toxic. Now more than ever, strong leaders are needed to guide their people to cultivate workplaces that are respectful, inclusive, ethical, and emotionally intelligent.
The most recent statistics suggest the exodus trend is here to stay. In March 2022, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States saw a record 4.53 million workers quit their jobs-- a new all-time high.
As much as it seems that employees are in the driver’s seat, it turns out that quitting their jobs actually creates regret on the part of the employee and the employer. There may be a viral trend of quitting workers celebrating, but it is also pretty challenging to find meaningful work in a healthy, productive environment.
Often, it is better to cultivate the characteristics of a good job rather than to start from scratch. Combined with the high cost of turnover and challenging recruitment environment, it definitely benefits everyone to reverse this trend.
5 Actions Forward-Thinking Companies are Doing to Keep Good People
Action #1- Take the time to interview departing employees.
A good exit interview when someone leaves not only provides valuable feedback but may lead to “boomerang employment” or the employee eventually coming back.
Action #2- Proactively help your team develop a "work-life balance" strategy that works for them.
As people return to the office, while others prefer to remain in the remote world, finding the right balance of these elements is critical for long-term job satisfaction.
Action #3- Reach out to employees who ARE happy and satisfied with their jobs.
Conduct “stay” interviews. It’s key to understand what things companies are doing right and do more of it. Encourage employees to speak up about areas in which they want to grow and develop their skills.
Action #4- Examine and address toxic workplace culture.
In a recent MIT Sloan Management Review article called, “Toxic Culture is Driving the Great Resignation,” it was determined that an unhealthy, abusive, or just disengaged employee can not only lead to attrition but also spread it to others. It’s important to note that this deep dive examination should not only involve high-level managers in big companies but also include the “micro-cultures" or employee relationships within teams. They are equally important.
Action #5- Address common emotional and societal pressures, issues, and events directly.
Chances are, if one person is stressed about a negative national news event or Covid outbreak, for example, it is on everyone’s mind. Providing open communication and support, mental health resources or productive outlets for employee wellbeing manifests in a healthy workforce and productive company culture.
How Powers Resource Center can Help
During this time of chaos and transition, we’re seeing an even greater interest in our most popular leadership training topics at PRC (in addition to our top team-building programs). Organizations are realizing that it's a critical time to invest in healthier culture-building and leadership development.
Here are some of our most popular leadership training topics our clients are getting the most traction from this year so far.
1) Power Up - Customized Programs for Your LMS
Make microlearning on your teams a regular investment with our license-free custom program that implements and integrates our powerful leadership and team content into your learning and development systems.
2) Level UP - Train the Trainer Program
Train your workplace trainers and subject matter experts to design in-house programs and workshops that deliver results. Taught by a master facilitator and corporate training developer, this masterclass incorporates brain science, adult learning principles, and micro-learning options. Receive a FULL package of workshop design and development resources that you can use, rinse, and repeat over and over again.
3) Build UP - Done-for-You Workshops
Done-for-you content for virtual OR in-person delivery to workplace teams by internal L&D teams and consultants. Content ranges from half-day to full-day programs for leaders who are planning for the future of work. The content is focused on topics such as developing resilience, building emotional intelligence, leadership coaching, and best practices of leading remotely to train internal leaders and managers.
4) 5B Accreditation -Train Your Facilitators
Become an Accredited Facilitator for The Five Behaviors® Team Development to unlock organizations’ untapped potential with this breakthrough program. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to this team development solution, this course will increase your knowledge and strengthen your Five Behaviors facilitation skills. With The Five Behaviors® Facilitator Accreditation, you will dive deep into the Five Behaviors model and facilitation best practices. This five-week course will help you build the confidence and expertise to navigate The Five Behaviors Team Development sessions, fine-tuning your skills to deliver an effective experience for any team.
5) DiSC Certification - Train Your Facilitators
As the world of work becomes more reliant on technology, your organization has been challenged to recreate the authentic human connections that drive results. Now, with the proven power of Everything DiSC®, you can help shape a more engaged and collaborative culture by teaching people about themselves and others. Everything DiSC® Certification prepares practitioners to deliver engaging and impactful DiSC® learning experiences that help people work better together. This holistic DiSC experience teaches the principles of Everything DiSC through a variety of applications and activities.
We’ve also published our list of the most popular team-building training topics. And be sure to check out the entire list of our top training topics.
Want more insights from Tara Powers?
See all courses currently available from Powers Resource Center and receive a free consultation on any of their offerings.
