This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
As a small business owner, retaining top talent can be a significant challenge. Diana and Eddie Ogendi, the husband and wife duo who own and run Lady Luck, a thriving shapewear business with two stores, have faced this challenge firsthand.
After years of dabbling in other businesses that failed, the couple has learned valuable lessons that have helped them retain their employees. In this article, we will explore their 7 proven strategies for retaining good employees.
Hire Right ¶
According to Eddie, hiring mistakes are sometimes inevitable because the interview process is not enough to make good judgment. However, he emphasizes the importance of casting a wide net when recruiting and taking your time to find the right candidate.
“Don’t hire someone because they are family or a friend of a friend. Hire because someone is qualified for the job and would be a good fit in your company and fit in with the other employees,” Diana says.
Train Well ¶
Most business owners have a trust problem and have trouble letting go, says Eddie. This leads them to micromanage and that is one of the surest ways to have your employees out the door.
“Train and trust,” Eddie says. “If you train someone—and training is always a continuous process—you’ll be able to trust them to do the work. And if you let them do the work, they feel responsible and enjoy doing it and most importantly they feel respected.”
Recognise and Reward Good Performance ¶
“The reward doesn’t have to be monetary all the time. Saying ‘thank-you’ or ‘well done’ goes a long way,” says Diana.
According to Eddie, they recognise and reward publicly, and correct privately, a principle they learnt from one of the books by business magnate Richard Branson.
Provide a Good Working Environment ¶
A good working environment is as simple as making sure the lighting is right, the chairs are comfortable, and employees have decent coffee and tea. Diana and Eddie say they always put themselves in their employees’ shoes, and that way they are able to provide what they would want provided for them.
“As Christians, we also do our best to have a godly environment. We emphasise virtues such as honesty, kindness, humility, joy, sisterhood, and brotherhood. It keeps people longer because they feel part of a family,” says Diana.
Be Fair and Just ¶
Being fair goes beyond resolving issues fairly. If for instance, says Diana, an employee or your team performs a task well and you take full credit for it or don’t recognise their part in it, they won’t respect you.
“If there is any time someone feels like their superior is being unfair, it is never a good working environment,” says Diana.
Practise What You Preach ¶
This is an age-old advice that transcends all spheres of life – from parenting to management. “If you’re mean to your employees and at the same time tell them to be kind to your clients, that won’t work. Culture always trickles down to the customer,” Diana says.
Have Fun ¶
Work occupies most of our lives. We spend more hours at work than at home. And Eddie and Diana have ensured a friendly working environment and have fun at work.
“We laugh a lot with our employees. We are not formal. Remember, retention is a two-way thing and we are blessed to have good people with us. They give us positive energy and we always give it back to them.”
