Employees are telling a story every day and every time they meet someone.
The story is about their employer, whether it’s the company itself, their supervisor or the owner(s). If these employees are highly satisfied, they’re singing the praises of the place they call work. Without prompting, they excitedly share how great it is to work in an environment where everyone is committed to the same things—a place not only dripping with positive energy and support, but also with accountability for results. They go on to explain that work doesn’t even feel like work most days, but rather just an extension of who they are and their passions. In doing so, they tell a story that attracts others like a magnet.
If they’re highly unsatisfied, they’re looking for a way out. Each and every time they meet someone, they tell how bad it is to work for their employer. They may even share details with explicit examples and naming names. These employees are even more excited to tell their story than the highly satisfied employees because they’re angry and want vengeance on the employer who mistreated them. In doing so, they tell a story that repels others.
The remaining employees also are telling a story. They may be somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or somewhere in between. The story they’re telling is one of ambivalence. They have a job. That’s all. Sometimes it’s a good job and sometimes it’s not so great. But it pays the bills. The employees don’t speak of their employers unless asked. They don’t promote the company or say bad things about it. In doing so, they tell a story that speaks volumes. The story is that the company isn’t anything special.
Everyone agrees that attracting people is one of the most significant issues today. The competition for talent is fierce. What are you doing to improve the satisfaction of your employees? How much better would your recruiting and retention be if your employees were telling the right story?
Now go forth.
