3 Principles to Recruit, Retain and Motivate Employees

By Krischelle Tennessen

Among the most pressing issues facing company leaders today is the ability to attract, retain and motivate employees. We all know that companies need great people and people need great jobs, but today’s workforce expects more than that. They want to be part of something meaningful.

As the chief human resources officer of a company that’s more than 100 years old and is still family owned, I believe success in recruiting, retaining and motivating comes down to three key principles for company leaders: be authentic, be flexible and be transparent.

Be Authentic

Authenticity is everything. Rather than “selling” the organization to potential employees, paint a real picture so people can determine for themselves if it’s the kind of company they want to join. People want to add value, and to be valued in return. The ability to be part of an environment where they can do that is one of the hooks that energizes them about joining and remaining at your company.

Authenticity is expressed in our organization in a variety of forms. It includes championing experts at all levels of the company, talking openly and honestly about the results of our annual employee survey and celebrating the hobbies and community activities our employees participate in outside of the workplace.

Be Flexible

As the world changes, a company must change with it. That could include: adjusting the dress code so manufacturing staff and company leadership can both dress in casual attire; creating flexible schedules that allow employees to better manage family commitments; and finding fun, new ways to recognize employees. Being willing to change doesn’t mean you have to change your values. It makes you flexible.

In recent years, our company has introduced a “dress for your workday” dress code, flex time and work from home hours to better accommodate employees’ lifestyles. We’ve found that with a bit of flexibility, employees are happier — with no change to productivity.

Be Transparent

For me, culture is the heartbeat of the organization. That means finding ways to engage people’s hearts and minds. Use surveys to determine how employees are feeling about the company and then probe more deeply to understand the results. Continually talk about the culture: what it looks like, what it feels like, your expectations and theirs. Celebrate those who are doing a great job of living the culture and showcase their efforts back to your organization.

By following these three principles, today’s company leaders can better attract, retain and motivate talented associates — and create a roadmap to success for everyone in the organization. After all, a positively engaged workforce is critical to a company’s longevity and prosperity. PB