How to Retain your TeamBy R V Phani Kumar

People Management

Long ago there was a king who never listen to any one. He ruledhis kingdom almost for 20 years without any war. This is justBecause of his strong solider team . Enemies never thought toattack the country because of these soldiers. King concentratedmore on raising the funds for country and making the peoplehappy. The King was over confidence on the safety of hiscountry.

He used to kill his own soldiers for small small mistakes andtotally ignored to train people. Few of the soldiers ran awayfrom him. Over the period he lost all his strong team.

Now the turn of enemies, they easily own the war and occupiedthe so called unbitten kingdom.

Small Story

Small Story

The first one is he don’t have trust on any one

He didn’t identified the people [Core team]

He never listen to any one

He didn’t trained the Soldiers

He didn’t analyze why Soldiers ran away from him

He didn’t understand what Soldiers are needed

He don’t have interest to talk to Soldiers on their problems [It could because he is paying them]

Mistakes Of king

He lost his total Strong team

No proper training to remaining people

No team no planning

Not identified the enemies steps as he don’t have such person who can give right information

He ignored his enemies or Didn’t estimated forthcoming problems

Why he Lost war

Your team is also equal to Soldiers with out which you cant do any thing…some times you may lost your life and company [Kingdom].

word

YES – Which is Almost equal to O 2 [Oxygen], with out which company can't run.

Is Retention of the Team is so Important ?

Retention of the Team is equal to planting a tree and growing it to get fruits.

Retention of the team and Company growth both are interdependent. Company can grow quickly if you can retain the team.

You can pass on new projects to your core team

Cost effective

Brand expose

No need of training on your brand.

Why Retention of the team is important

Capabilities

Interest

Freehand

Realization Financials

Comfort

Build Relations

Training Coordination

Recognization

Retention

Flow

The Effective steps to retain the team

Capabilities of your team

The first most thing you wanted to do is list out the team who is performing good.

Identify their Capabilities

Allocate the work where they are very good at.

Remember capabilities of a human cant be define as it complete depends and Mind.

Step 1- Capabilities

Find the team member interest

Work on his/ her calibers and allocate the work according his interest

If suppose the person is good in clod calling though he/she is a sales person, you allocate him/ her the cold calling only.

Step 2- Interest

You must give the freehand to the team

You should not tie their hand with your style of working or something else.

Give the task and ask them to complete on time with their own style of working.

Step-3 Freehand

Every human will do mistakes, you and your team is not exemptionon this.

“Every one has to do mistakes. But they should not repeated thesame mistakes. If you are not doing mistakes, you are not in rightpath. [Got this quotation from some books]”

If any body of your team member has done a mistake don’t shout atthem even in floor any where else. Take them to conference roomor out side where ever you are free. Tell them softly what they havedone the mistake. What problem occurred. What the precautionthey would have taken. What will happened if the same mistakesrepeated [Its not mean that you will sack them from the job].

Make them realize that for every step what ever they are taking itwill effect the client, Company and persons career.

Step -4 Realization

Manager or a lead or a owner is not a “GOD”. If you feel so, you and your company will fell down very quickly.

My intention of above statement is that you should not sit away from the team and your intention must not be that let them only approach. [Some times you must not approach new team members to know their interest on job]

If any person is doing repeated mistakes that means they are in some problem either in understanding the importance of the task or in personal life or some thing else.

Talk to them slowly analyze the situation why he/she is doing repeated mistakes. You give a note before they starting the task where the area they are doing mistakes and you sit along with them till they complete the task. And ask them to do continue the same.

Let all other team know that you are their to support them in all the areas. This kind of comfort zone you must give it your team.

Step -5 Comfort

I have seen lot many people they are very good at work , Teamgelling, Coordination, Avoiding the mistakes but when monthend comes they are not that much active. I have spoken tocouple of my team members on this and understand that theyare need in money. I have taken few precautions and steps tomake them comfort.

Remember the Most thing to retain any team is, to createcomfort by give the best perks. Give a good incentives , Releasethe Arrears or variable pay amount on time , Appraisals on time,Bonus etc..

Don’t ignore to understand their financial needs There was a saying ‘For peanuts monkeys will come’.

Step -6 Financials

The another point and most important point is to maintain very good and soft relationwith the team.

Here I will take few slides to explain ….Over my career I have met lot many people and I had a question to every one in ourprofessional conversion, ‘what is the most important thing that you stays in your presentorganization’. All most every one said that “I have very good Relation with my Manager”.There is the point. I met few Managers and I had the same question with them.. Here Isurprised with answers ..they said 3 major points “My Management is very Good” “I havefreehand to take decisions” and last and surprised one is “My team is very good”. I reallyshocked… and made a note that the relation between team and Manager/ Managementshould be like Milk and water. That means with your relation you will make an healthyenvironment.That sounds good.. I made list of steps what I need to do. I have started implementing inmy team. Yes its worked out. Even today I have a very good relation with my previousorganizations team and Management.

Step-7 – Build the relations

What are steps I have taken?I have called all my team members for a meeting. Every one gathered with their pen and Notes. I amlooking at every one eyes. Some of them are scared as they didn’t reach target, took leave with outintimating, ect... But I observed all need some thing else from me. Here is a pin drop silent. I have keptmy marker in the table and with smile face I said… “Team today on words we are going to change ourenvironment, No serious looks, I promise you henceforth you will only smile in my face ..even in toughsituations” [But unfortunately.. One day I saw tears in my whole team faces when I left organization. Iwould like to say sorry to my whole team to whom I made cry.]After my words every one got relaxed and saw a heartfelt smile. There is the point. I caught them. If Iwant to retain them I must see the same smiles everyday. I decided to know mistakes what they don’tlike on me. I have told them to write on board the most things that they don’t want to see from me. Ihave given complete freedom. I have given an assurance that this wont effect any where, this is only toimprove my self. And I left the room almost for one hour…After one hour I return to the room…. And I saw list of mistakes in white board which they don’t likeon me. I noted all the points. I didn’t ask them who wrote what and I said I don’t wanted to know whowrote what but I assure you I will address all the points very soon.

Step-7 [Cont]– Build the relations

The Mistakes what they have written ?1. I don’t have refreshment on work2. I am not happy with the salary3. I am not happy with the A.C. at the floor4. I am not happy with the kind of work what I am doing5. I am not happy with the chairs6. I am not happy with the working hours7. I am not happy as I don’t have time to spend time with you to discuss on few things…[the only

comment]After seeing points 1 to 2 I noticed that the problem is not “mine” in fact its “our” problem.Point 7 spending time with team individually which makes me an alarm that the point who even writtenhe/she will be leaving the organization as its equal to emotional decision. Immediately I have told to mywhole team that “we are going for a lunch tomorrow”. If you want to retain the team and want to be agood boss you should not think about expenditure. Because those are your bread winners. You mustfeel that all your team members are your family members.

Step-7 [Cont]– Build the relations

The other day we have a very good time to spend in lunch. Hereevery one are offering me to eat this and that. Immediately what Ihave did is I went to each one table and served as I do with myfriends & siblings. I made them to treat me as a pear, but not as amanger or boss. I made to coordinate to pass the bowls from thereand here. I have not discussed any professional matter or workrelated things over this lunch [I understand most of the managersor bosses will discuss the professional things while such occasions.That’s not good]. Now I am equal to my team. Next day on words Ifound 100% attendance in the team [Most of the days. In fact Iwould like to give the leave to team who ever requested ]. This ismy first achievement to words relation building .

Step-7 [Cont]– Build the relations

The day I have observed every one are coming to meet me with outhesitation. I met each of my team member individually and spentquality time to understand their needs and expectations. I haveworked on it. Successfully made them happy. I put my expectationsin front of them and slowly motivated them to reach the deadlines.I trained them on work life balance.

After few days , I got amazing result to words my project delivery.We have completed the task , reached our Goals and exceeded ourtargets by 150%. Some times we have reached 202% even.

Step-7 [Cont]– Build the relations

What should you remember:

Your team is your life.

You should treat them as they are your family members [Priority].

Every one will not work only for salary.

Every one must be satisfied with your attitude.

There must not be any priority to any of your team member. Treatequally.

Have an individual discussion with everyone.

Give decent hikes over the appraisals.

Discuss regularly on mistakes but not in appraisal times .

Invite your team member family for lunch or dinner. You must do thisindividually.

People love to see smile in your face .. Keep with you every time.

Step-7 [Cont]– Build the relations

Build the Relation

Training programs will be another point where your team will be needed

Conduct regular training sessions regularly.

It could be in core area or Personality Development or some thing else which your company needed.

Step -8 Training

Coordination between the team members will be the another point which you must concentrate.

To improve coordination you must take few initiatives. You should take your team members for outing. Play some games on weekends. Create some occasions on frequent intervals. Must do annual day celebrations Announce some rewards. Publish such occasion pictures in Social network or in media. Change the mentors in your team frequently Define the roles of each team members Actually the most successful teams in world has a great coordination.

Step- 9 - Coordination

Boss must recognize the work of the team member. You must prize them for their achievements.

I found most of the talented people are leaving the organization due to non recognition

Send some congratulation mails, spread the company about his/ her achievement, Give the promotions, Award etc…

Step 10- Reorganization

The best example of coordination is a ‘Car’. To run a car allthe parts must be coordinate each other. Tires, steering,Engine, Fuel etc… Just imagine your company like a carand all the parts are equal to your team. With out of theseparts you cant run the show. In fact its calledinterdependence. Build such a fantastic team by definingperfect role to each other where either of these teammember can run the show [Like carl Hooper – the cricketer].Each of your team member must be an individualcontributor. Such team can do other work when in needed.

Example

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All these steps written based on my experience and observation. I wish to see the feedback. Please shoot a mail to rachkonda@gmail.com

Last words

Mr. R V Phani Kumar is a Recruitment consultant. He hasmore than a decade experience in Recruitments. Duringhis tenure he met thousands of people and analyzedtheir attitude. He realized form the managers to whomhe met that they are unable to retain the team eventhough they are providing good salary,infrastructure..etc… This is completely a referencebook for those who are suffering to retain the team. Asper author words ‘All the steps are interdependent. Youmust implement each and every phase.’

Author

R.V. Phani Kumar | +91-9848063198 | rachkonda@gmail.com

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