Apart from the usual things companies do to retain top talent when there is high attrition, I personally believe in Extensive Communication.
In testing times like these, great leaders communicate. This may include:
– They get closer to their teams in these times and engage in more frequent and direct communication
– They hear them out more (and not speak) – people feel satisfied once they see management is eager to Hear them. The pent up emotions get relieved and they feel lighter.
– They communicate honestly and transparently. They promise only what seems sure and clearly say what is not possible. Sometimes, tough things need to be spoken but employees judge leaders by how closely they can relate to their concerns and how much eager are they to address them. Genuineness, though obvious, remains elusive for most of the leaders in these times and their speeches are full of verbose and superflous promises.
– They set example and build a foundation of trust.
– They provide visibility to what’s happening and why it’s happening. This is especially pertinent to the matrix organization of IBM where people may not know the intentions or motives for things happening around them.
Sometimes, this is all what a dedicated employee might be looking for!