How to survive losing an expert
36
How to Survive… Losing an Expert When colleagues leave your association, don’t let their expertise leave with them. Here are five strategies to keep skills in-house.
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When colleagues leave your association, don’t let their expertise leave with them. Here are five strategies to keep skills in-house.
Transcript of How to survive losing an expert
How to Survive…
Losing an Expert
When colleagues leave your association, don’t
let their expertise leave with them. Here are five
strategies to keep skills in-house.
People leave at every association…
They get new jobs…
They have babies…
They visit Wyoming…
They visit Wyoming…
…and decide to stay.
Turnover at non-profits in 2013 averaged
17%(SOURCE: NonprofitHR’s 2014 Nonprofit Employment Practices Survey)
In case you’re not a math person, that’s almost
2 in 10
It can be SCARY sometimes.
People take skills with them !
Like when the guy who runs your email
program leaves for the Peace Corps…
And your association can’t send email.
Here are five ways to keep important
skills in-house…
Here are five ways to keep important
skills in-house…
…even when people move on.
1. Embrace Documentation
Gather all
passwords and
logins for the
systems you
use.
READ MORE: Intuit’s Guide to Techniques for
Documenting Your Business Processes
1. Embrace Documentation
Gather all
passwords and
logins for the
systems you
use.
READ MORE: Intuit’s Guide to Techniques for
Documenting Your Business Processes
Collect
instructions for
these systems.
Be obsessive about it.
1. Embrace Documentation
Gather all
passwords and
logins for the
systems you
use.
READ MORE: Intuit’s Guide to Techniques for
Documenting Your Business Processes
Collect
instructions for
these systems.
Be obsessive about it.
Have your staff
write “how to”
documents that
explain your processes.
2. Start a Wiki
You need to
store instructions
and passwords
in a common
workspace.
READ MORE: PC Magazine’s Guide to How to
Create a Wiki
2. Start a Wiki
You need to
store instructions
and passwords
in a common
workspace.
READ MORE: PC Magazine’s Guide to How to
Create a Wiki
It can be a wiki.
Or a Google
Drive. Anything
that fits your workflow.
2. Start a Wiki
You need to
store instructions
and passwords
in a common
workspace.
READ MORE: PC Magazine’s Guide to How to
Create a Wiki
It can be a wiki.
Or a Google
Drive. Anything
that fits your workflow.
Give a thought
to security and
who can and
should have access.
3. Cross-Train Your Staff
No important
task or skill
should reside
with only one
person.
READ MORE: Intuit’s Guide to How (And Why) to
Cross-Train Employees
3. Cross-Train Your Staff
No important
task or skill
should reside
with only one
person.
READ MORE: Intuit’s Guide to How (And Why) to
Cross-Train Employees
Create
incentives for
people to train
each other and do other jobs.
3. Cross-Train Your Staff
No important
task or skill
should reside
with only one
person.
READ MORE: Intuit’s Guide to How (And Why) to
Cross-Train Employees
Create
incentives for
people to train
each other and do other jobs.
Vacations and
other leaves
are a great time to do this.
4. Obsess Over Support
Gather numbers
and email for
tech support,
including after
hours.
READ MORE: Lifehacker’s Guide to Getting Better
Technical Support
4. Obsess Over Support
Gather numbers
and email for
tech support,
including after
hours.
READ MORE: Lifehacker’s Guide to Getting Better
Technical Support
If you have reps,
get to know
them. Make sure
you have contact info.
4. Obsess Over Support
Gather numbers
and email for
tech support,
including after
hours.
READ MORE: Lifehacker’s Guide to Getting Better
Technical Support
If you have reps,
get to know
them. Make sure
you have contact info.
Call tech
support before
you have
problem, so you know the score.
And this might be the most important…
5. Manage for Change
Know the goals
and ambitions of
the people on
your team. Life
situations, too.
READ MORE: Fast Company on 10 ways to Lose
Your Best Employees
5. Manage for Change
Know the goals
and ambitions of
the people on
your team. Life
situations, too.
READ MORE: Fast Company on 10 ways to Lose
Your Best Employees
Create a climate
where people
are comfortable
discussing changes.
5. Manage for Change
Know the goals
and ambitions of
the people on
your team. Life
situations, too.
READ MORE: Fast Company on 10 ways to Lose
Your Best Employees
Create a climate
where people
are comfortable
discussing changes.
Do this right
and you’ll see
changes
coming – and adjust in time.
Yeah, this stuff is a pain and adds work…
Yeah, this stuff is a pain and adds work…
…but remember this:
The number of days it usually takes to replace
a mid-level association employee:
31 - 60(SOURCE: NonprofitHR’s 2014 Nonprofit Employment Practices Survey)
You have to keep operating while you hire...
…so gather your tools and keep your smile!
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