Keep top talent happy
The interesting thing about the past few years is that with all the fatigue and uncertainty, great marketers have stretched their skills and learned new technologies which are making the best talent, in extremely high demand. So the question becomes, how do you retain your top marketing talent?
Prioritize wellbeing
It may seem elementary, but a commitment to holistic employee wellness is crucial to keeping talent engaged. Given that low engagement is responsible for a $7.8 billion loss in the global economy, CEOs and CMOs must recognize that well-being programs are essential to boosting revenue.
There are three aspects of employee well-being that should be considered when thinking about how to retain talent:
- Mental well-being refers to how employees view themselves within your organization. Are they confident in your company’s mission and vision? Are they given feedback that boosts their self-esteem? Do they feel secure in their roles? Don’t just assume what they need to uplevel their happiness; ask them what’s working and what’s not working, both as it relates to the company at large and to you as their manager.
- Physical health. When WFH was the norm two years ago, it was easy for employees to remain active and make time for daily exercise. With many companies switching back to hybrid/in-office, this flexibility has severely decreased. Physical health is directly related not only to mental health, but also to productivity and improved cognitive function. CEOs and CMOs should not only encourage their teams to take time for physical activity, but they should also ensure that company culture allows for this time to be taken.
- Social interaction. One of the biggest benefits of the return to hybrid/in-office work is the social aspect. For the past three years, remote workers have struggled with loneliness and isolation. Social interaction plays a significant role in employee happiness, which means that CEOs and CMOs at companies that are still fully remote or hybrid, have to make a conscious effort to provide their teams with the opportunity to interact meaningfully with their coworkers (beyond 15-minute Zoom happy hours).
Make time for career pathing
An alarming 71% of employees are unhappy with the career advancement opportunities in their companies. Your people are your power and if you don’t carve out time for them, you’ll lose out. Do you know where your team members want to be in 12 months? 24 months? Five years? Do you have the support infrastructure to get them there?
Take the time to look at your learning & development strategy. Do you have one? Do you need to bring in an outside resource? The percentage of learning and development professionals working with corporate executives has grown to 50% in the past year, as upleveling has emerged as a top priority for employees.