Engaged employees want challenging, meaningful work, a boss that cares, and an opportunity to learn and grow on the job. Some fun wouldn't be a bad idea either!
I work with a lot of high potential clients in my executive coaching programs. In my experience, the leaders who are looking elsewhere report feeling under appreciated not necessarily under compensated.
What are the main reasons people choose to leave your organization? Why do they stay?
Study after study show that people leave because of their direct supervisors, more so than any other reason. It is the manager who more than anyone else who can do something about retaining workers. The manager can be seen as responsible for creating a satisfactory work environment.
However, studies also show that 9 out of 10 managers think people stay or go because of money (Harvard Management Update, June 1988). Money and perks matter, but employees report that what they want most is challenging, meaningful work, a good boss, and an opportunity for learning and development.
In 1999 the Hay Group studied more than 500,000 employees in 300 companies. They found that of 50 retention factors, pay was the least important. Other studies bring up similar lists of the 10 most important reasons people want to stay with a company.
1. Career growth, learning and development
2. Exciting, challenging work
3. Meaningful work, ability to make a difference and a contribution
4. Great people
5. Being part of a team
6. Good boss
7. Recognition for work well done
8. Autonomy, a sense of control over one’s work
9. Flexible hours and dress
10. Fair pay and benefits
This is contingent upon people having already attained a certain level of material comfort. That is, once people have their basic needs met, they care more about what they do and who they work with, rather than the money.
What motivates you the most at work?
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