team

7 Ways To Successfully Reduce Employee Turnover

MOMENTUM Business Support Business Support, HR and Recruitment
A person in an office packing their things into a cardboard box

High employee turnover rates can be detrimental to any business – large or small. Not only does it mean a loss in productivity, it can also lead to a decrease in morale and an increase in expenses. The good news is that there are various things you can do to reduce staff turnover and keep your team happy and engaged. From creating a supportive and collaborative environment to promoting employee wellbeing, these tips will help you retain your team and keep your business growing.

Understand why employees are leaving

The first step is to identify the issue. When trying to pinpoint why employee turnover is high, regular feedback and surveys can be useful. Make sure you’re asking questions that will help you understand the underlying problems that are causing employees to leave. Is there a lack of job satisfaction? Is there too much pressure or are there not enough opportunities for growth and development? Maybe the way you communicate or manage employees could use some improvement. Get to the root of the problem and make necessary changes to ensure employees are set up for success. 

Craft a recruiting strategy that attracts the right talent

The next step is crafting a recruitment strategy that will attract the right talent. What are the attributes, skills, and values that you want in an ideal employee? Once you’ve identified what you want, make sure your job description is clear and the benefits you provide are competitive. Be sure to reach out to the right people and organisations. Networking and attending recruitment events can be a great way to scout new talent, while word of mouth can be one of the most efficient ways to find a reliable team. Don’t forget to ask your existing employees to refer their contacts or others they know, who may be a good fit.

Improve communication and feedback

Effective communication and good feedback is key. Make sure your team has access to the information and tools they need to do their best work. Keep the lines of communication open and ensure all feedback is consistent and two-way. Regularly check-in with all employees and be constructive, this can help increase morale and encourage employees to feel appreciated. It will also help your team to feel more connected to the company and give them the opportunity to express any concerns or offer solutions.

Encourage professional development

Providing employees with the chance to grow and develop is a great way to ensure the longevity of your team. Invest in your employees and provide them with the opportunities and resources to take their career to the next level. Consider providing in-house classes/training or outside seminars and conferences they can learn from. Most importantly, be understanding and let your employees learn from their mistakes.

Nurture a positive workplace environment

Make sure your company culture is one that is well respected and attracts employees who can genuinely contribute and create a positive environment. Recognize and celebrate employees’ successes, honour their work, and provide social opportunities for staff to interact. While these things may feel small, they can go a long way in making employees feel valued – ultimately decreasing unnecessary turnover.

Be flexible

Flexible working hours and flexible vacation policies give employees the chance to create their own work-life balance, which can lead to increased productivity and employee satisfaction. Offering work from home or remote work options can also be beneficial as it can reduce stress and save employees time and money. It may be helpful to conduct surveys or studies to learn what type of flexibility works best for your employees and take the necessary steps to implement it.

Be transparent about targets and expectations

Finally, be transparent from the get-go. Employees should have a clear understanding of how their performance is evaluated as well as their roles and responsibilities. Provide detailed performance metrics and use them to benchmark success. Keep your team updated on company goals and strategies. Regularly solicit feedback and use it to identify where small changes can be made to make employees’ jobs easier or more enjoyable.

Reducing employee turnover is no easy task. It requires time, focus, and commitment on the part of the management team. If you’d like to find out more about reducing your employee turnover or require any additional business support, we’d love to help! Get in touch:

T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com

6 Festive Alternatives To An Office Party

MOMENTUM Business Support Business Support, Home Working
Co-workers raising a champagne glass and celebrating in a Christmas decorated room

Every year hundreds of office parties take place, bringing co-workers together to partake in festivities. They are fun and great for team bonding, while allowing you to thank your team for all their hard work throughout the year. However, increasingly large numbers of businesses have shifted away from traditional office spaces, meaning that most businesses no longer have an ‘office’ to hold the party. What’s more, every company is different – be it in size or needs, so it’s important to explore every option, choosing one that is best suited to your team! With Christmas finally underway, we’d like to share with you some of our favourite festive alternatives to the classic office party. 

Potluck dinner – Restaurant outings are fun, and are almost as common as the office party, but can quickly become expensive or booked up. A potluck dinner is a great alternative and a fun twist on a classic – plus it’s cheaper than eating out and allows your team to freely chat over dinner. It also gives your team a chance to show their cooking flair with a signature dish.

Pub quiz – Hosting a pub quiz is a great team activity. It allows you and your employees to share and gain knowledge, and when split into teams it can become a fun, competitive activity. If you’re conscious of going out due to any restrictions or travel factors, “Zoom quizzes” are a great way to socialise remotely. While not quite as atmospheric as a pub quiz, it’s still a fantastic opportunity for quality team time as well as showing off your general (or festive) knowledge.

Team building day – If you have a day to spare this festive season, inviting your team to a team building event is a great way to spend it. The main strength of a team building activity is in the name – it allows your team to bond over some fun group activities! In turn, this leads to breaking down barriers, improved working relationships as well as a more productive team when ‘back on the job’. It is a diverse category, with many activities to choose from such as: escape rooms, board games, arts and crafts workshops, or cooking classes, just to name a few.

Karaoke night – Another twist on a pub night is a karaoke night! You might be able to find a karaoke bar in a larger town or city, but many pubs and bars also host karaoke nights. While it may seem intimidating for some, it’s a tried and tested activity perfect for a casual, festive outing. After all, what’s a better ice breaker than belting out your favourite Christmas tunes?

Ice skating – Ice skating is a great Winter activity for getting your team into the holiday spirit. Skating rinks pop up in many towns during Christmas season, so make the most of them while you can! It’s fun and rewarding and goes perfectly with a steaming cup of hot chocolate after you’re done!

Festive walk – Walks are a natural, cost-effective way for your team to come together and get into the holiday spirit. The UK is home to many stunning parks and areas of natural beauty, so why not wrap up warm and take advantage of them? Keep your eye out for seasonal events – National Trust sites often host winter-themed walks and workshops, perfect for an outing with your team.

While these alternatives are some of our favourites, there isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to these things, so remember to chat with your team and accommodate them as best as you can. We hope this read has been insightful and provides you with some fun ideas to implement this festive season. If you’d like to find our more or require any other business support – we’d love to help! Get in touch:

T: 01903 688789 E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com

Make Your Team Meetings More Productive

MOMENTUM Business Support Business Support
Desktop computer on a wooden desk with an active business video call on the screen

Whether you’re an SME or an industry giant, team meetings are an essential part of every business. Invaluable to any workforce, they help to strengthen strategies, as well as the relationship with your team. However, there’s no need to hold them excessively! More thought through and productive meetings produce more benefits while helping to decrease the total meetings volume, ultimately making them less strenuous to attend by your team and even…enjoyable!

So, to help you plan your future team meetings, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite tips to elevate their productivity.

Give adequate notice

No one likes to feel unprepared or make last minute changes to their daily schedule, especially during busier times. Make sure to always give generous notice when scheduling a meeting, allowing your team adequate time to plan and prepare. This goes both ways! If for some reason you know you won’t be able to attend, try your best to let everyone know in advance.

Invite the right people

Keep it small. We’ve all experienced a zoom call with unnecessary numbers of participants, it rarely goes smoothly. Larger groups can make it difficult for everyone to feel involved and when online, are often accompanied by various technical issues. Unless you’re giving a quick group announcement or plan to be the only speaker during the session, try to stick to between 5 and 8 attendees. This applies to in person meetings as well!

Make sure it’s necessary

Before scheduling another meeting, ask yourself “can it be covered in an email?” Of course, this can’t be applied to every scenario, but the likelihood is that there’s a more efficient way of getting the message across. Eliminating time consuming meetings as well as their organising process, your team will be quicker to take action and produce results, as well as appreciating the additional time to do so.

Take notes and log changes

Get into the habit of making notes and writing down any important information, alternatively encourage your team members to do this. Afterall, the chances of remembering every detail are small! Not only is it useful to look back on and review – it also means that you can easily update any missing team members. Transcribing meetings into the written format is a great way of building up strategies and finalising targets, while creating a visual aid for your team.

Keep it short or take breaks

According to various studies, most adult individuals have a maximum attention span of around 20 minutes, after which focus begins to lapse. When compared to the average time of a meeting (50.6 minutes), the figures suggest a decrease in productivity for over half the meeting’s duration. The best option is to keep meetings short, and to the point, keeping them under 30 minutes where possible. In the event of a necessary longer meeting, regular breaks can help to refresh focus, producing better outcomes while maximising time efficiency.

Set a clear meeting goal and agenda

Almost every successful meeting has a pre-established goal and a general agenda. After all, it’s the best way of staying on track and defining clear targets. Doing so ensures that the entire team stays on the same page and thus has a better understanding of what needs to be done. This ultimately creates a better environment for the entire team, allowing for a stronger synergy and higher productivity.

Respect people’s time and individual needs

We’ve all experienced busier periods at work – times when every minute felt invaluable, and any last-minute changes turned the whole week upside down. While meetings are undoubtedly an important aspect of work life, understanding the individual needs of your workforce and acting accordingly should always be the primary focus. Respect the time of your team and allow room for adjustments – not only will this strengthen the bond with your peers, but it will also create an honest and positive environment for your business to grow. Skipping the occasional meeting during busy periods, or rescheduling for more convenient times, will help to promote higher quality results as well as reinforcing a better work ethic.

If you’d like to find out more about improving the productivity of your team meetings, or require any additional business support, get in touch! E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com   T: 01903 688789