What "we" say - meaning managers, supervisors, executives, etc. within an organization isn't as relevant anymore. When worrying about employee retention and recruitment don't worry about what you think - worry about what they think. Many a company has asked me to develop an employee retention "program" but the truth is their own employees are their retention program - as well as their recruiting program.
It couldn't have been said any better than in this post I found on The Power of Influence blog quoting the head of mobile device marketing at Motorola...
The world has changed,” said Jeremy Dale, who is in charge of marketing for mobile devices at Motorola, where fortunes tumbled with the decline of its once popular Razr. “There is more relevance in what other consumers say than what the company is saying.”
“The strongest marketing tool is the first 20,000 people who buy the device,” Mr. Dale of Motorola said. “If they like it, they will tell their friends.”
More evidence you don't matter... check this out - Polls: 44% Normally Disbelieve Any And All Company Statements
Ask yourself - if we were talking about your company wouldn't the same hold true. The world has changed - there is more relevance in what your employees say than in what you say.
Get over it. All your brochures and web sites don't mean anything when the real conversation about you flows through the ether on Facebook, myspace and other sites. You don't matter as much as your employees do.
So what is your retention program? Your employees connecting with other employees and discussing the company and the opportunities you provide. What is your recruitment program? Your current employees actively looking for another convert.
What are you doing to enable these conversations? How are you influencing their behavior? (Hint: Start by asking them.)
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