Building a Strong Team for the New Year: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention
As the end of the year quickly approaches, it’s the perfect time for organizations to reflect on their teams. A strong team promotes a positive work environment where employees can achieve greater opportunities and overcome obstacles, enhancing organizational performance and success.
The start of a new year offers a fresh perspective and a chance to set ambitious goals. To drive improvements, leaders must focus on building strong, resilient teams that are inclusive and diverse. Why? Data shows that diverse and inclusive teams not only drive better performance but also help organizations exceed their financial targets and maintain higher engagement levels.
Innovative Recruitment Tactics
Expanding Talent Pools
One effective way to build a winning team is by expanding your talent pool. Many companies overlook the potential of “Returners” – professionals who have taken career breaks. But they’re more common than you may think. Research shows that 62% of workers have taken a gap at some point in their careers. Returners bring fresh perspectives that can rejuvenate organizational culture and spark innovation. This group is often overlooked, but bringing a Return-to-Work program to your company could be the most effective employee recruitment strategy.
Focusing on Adaptability and Potential
HR recruitment strategies continue to change, and adaptability and potential are more critical than ever. Skills-based hiring has gained traction, with studies indicating that soft skills are increasingly vital in predicting career success. A recent survey reveals that 96% of recruiters now prioritize candidates’ ability to learn new skills and transfer competencies to evolving roles. As the emphasis on skill-based learning grows, adapting your hiring practices is necessary to optimize your talent pool.
Retaining Top Talent
Offering Flexibility
When discussing key retention strategies and best practices, it’s important to remember workplace flexibility. Flexibility benefits a diverse range of professionals – working parents, LGBTQIA+ individuals, those with disabilities, and even night owls – by accommodating various needs and preferences. Companies that provide flexible work options, including remote work, maintain significantly better worker retention rates.
Providing Leadership Development
Employee retention groups often get it wrong: employees don’t want a pizza party or an office potluck. They want to feel a sense of belonging and feel valued at work. One way to show your employees you’re invested in their success is by providing quality, scaleable leadership development programs. Training programs can equip employees with foundational skills such as effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. This not only supports individual growth, but also enhances the organization’s ability to navigate change and achieve its goals.
Success Stories and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Investing in strong, diverse recruitment and retention programs can help you build a robust team. Return-to-Work programs help companies hire committed, talented, and diverse professionals. 93% of reacHIRE’s Return-to-Work program participants are women, bringing more women with diverse backgrounds to the workforce.
The KPIs of effective retention strategies are tenfold. When workplaces are committed to offering flexibility, it keeps people in their jobs. Research found that 38% of mothers with young children state that without workplace flexibility, they would have had to leave their jobs or reduce their hours. Additionally, by providing leadership development and soft skills training, it’s been proven that these investments lead to higher expected retention, highlighting the long-term benefits of nurturing your team.
Hiring, motivating, and retaining top talent is not just a strategic imperative but a pathway to sustained growth and success. By focusing on innovative recruitment tactics, offering flexibility, and investing in leadership development, you can create a supportive and resilient work environment. Prepare for the year ahead, and look into reacHIRE’s Return-to-Work and Leadership Development programs.