The tech industry is constantly changing, but that’s no reason for your team to churn. You don’t just need to onboard the right people but keep them around. As VP of Engineering at Howdy, I am lucky to work with some of the most talented developers in LatAm, but maintaining a team is anything but luck. Here are a few of my best practices for retaining skilled specialists in the tech industry.
Chart a Course for Growth
Trust Your Team
The importance of mentors in talent retention is astronomical. At Howdy, we have a mentor program that has effectively taught people new skills and made them feel trusted because they know they are an active part of the company's future. The mentors are emotionally intelligent people with great leadership qualities, so they know how to communicate effectively and support their fellow team members.
One-on-one professional interactions allow for a better understanding of individual work styles and help create a more harmonious working environment. Mentorship programs build trust within organizations, offering a space for team members to discuss aspirations, concerns, and potential issue resolution.
Actively Reward and Provide Benefits
Paying a competitive salary is necessary, but it’s also important to maintain an open dialogue about the average salary in the sector and how it may change over time. Retaining talent can involve many other benefits and perks. We always let the people on our team know that we appreciate how much they do by acknowledging and rewarding their contributions.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a gift card, gym membership, or new hardware that will make life a little bit easier or help perform daily tasks more effectively — people appreciate recognition. Remind your team that a company isn’t a bunch of individuals working in a vacuum but a team of people banding together for a common goal.
People want their hard work noticed, and one of your many duties as an employer is to let your team know how much you appreciate them. Providing ample growth opportunities, trusting your team, and giving credit where credit is due can make all the difference in keeping talented professionals around for the long haul.