HANDS ON - BUSINESS 101
Why People Quit
by Daniel Abramson

There are many reasons why good people quit, and most are preventable. Here, in order of importance to employees, are the top reasons people say they leave a job.

Most hiring managers can do a better job selecting, hiring, and training people. Too much emphasis is placed on the technical aspect of a job and not the people skills.

Aligning culture, compatibility, and mission is critical in battling turnover. You might consider personality tests to measure soft skills.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

We all know good performance rests on tomorrow's accomplishments—the "what have you done for me lately" syndrome. However, many people have strong ego strength and like to know that they are valued for doing a good job today. It's said people don't quit a company, they quit a boss!

INSIDE STAFF SUPPORT

Even if the mission statement preaches teamwork and cooperation, a combination of red tape and rigid structure can be a catalyst for driving away good people. Though customer satisfaction and getting the job done are today's mantras, there must be real synergy between departments.

GROWTH POTENTIAL

People want training and development. Sending them to training programs and trade shows is a market differentiator. Capable people recognize that if they do a good job and learn their craft, opportunities can follow.

MONEY AND COMPENSATION

I'm sure you're surprised to see money ranked last. While pay has to be competitive, it is rarely the main reason a good person leaves. In fact, if the other four values are off, you'll hear people say, "You can't pay me enough to stay at XYZ company."

Daniel Abramson is president of Staffdynamics and a speaker at International Vision Expos. E-mail him at daniel@staffdynamics.biz.