The last thing you want to do in the middle of an industrywide labor shortage is lose your top talent to a competitor — or to anyone else, for that matter. So, what’s the best way to keep them? If your answer is more money, better benefits, more time off, tuition reimbursement, flexible scheduling, 401(k) matching, or a company-paid car, you might be right, but you’re probably wrong. These are temporary motivators that can be found everywhere — tiny darts aimed at giant bullseyes. So, what’s the secret then? Employee recognition. And, guess what … it’s completely free and easy.
I bring this up after reviewing the Most Critical Player Award nominations. Choosing a winner was a hard decision — really hard. But I wish it would have been just a little bit harder.