10 Things A-Players Want that is NOT Money
Think your A-players only need the best salaries to stick around? Think again! Salary is not the only factor that matters.
As we learned in our research, there are several other crucial factors that A-players consider when deciding whether to stay with a company in the long run.
We've outlined the top ten things A-players want from their employer; let’s go!
Transparency & Vulnerability
One of the key factors is transparency and vulnerability. A company that values honest communication and is willing to share even the less-than-ideal news with its employees creates a sense of trust and fosters loyalty among its team.
Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance doesn't always have to mean working remotely whenever the employee feels like it. Balance means understanding that your employees may have things that happen throughout life. A new baby, a miscarriage, a tremendous loss, a move, etc. Focus on being flexible for your best people, because they will truly appreciate it in the end.
Superb Management
Take the time to build up your management team to be extraordinary leaders. A-players want to work with managers who are true leaders, who empower their team and lead by example. Investing in leadership development for managers can help create a culture of accountability, where team members are held to high standards and are motivated to go the extra mile.
A Team That Pulls Their Weight
We heard this repeatedly through our research. The most frustrating thing for A-players is other employees who don't pull their weight...but even more so, a company that fails to address the issue! It's unrealistic to think that every single employee at an organization is going to be the ideal employee; however, your A-players want to see those who don't pull their weight be held accountable. A-players will most certainly leave if they're left with extra work simply because someone else can't handle it. No one wants to be punished for being great at their job.
A Clear Understanding of Everyone's Job Duties
You may think that employees only want to “stay in their lane” and don't want to be bothered by what other people do at your company. But get this, during our research, we learned that employees who genuinely care about the company they work for (which are the people you want!) genuinely want to understand how all the pieces work together. They want to know how their work impacts other departments. They want to know what other employees are responsible for to ensure all are doing what they should be doing. Clear job descriptions and an understanding of how all the pieces fit together can also help create a cohesive team and a sense of belonging.
If you have employees who are curious about others, don't let that scare you! Embrace these employees. They are your future leaders.
In-Person Work
Shocked to see this on the list? We actually weren't. You have to remember, more than half of Americans are considered extroverts, which means they thrive in social situations. Think of your sales team, attorneys, retail managers, marketers and teachers - most of these professionals need to be with people to do their best work. And we hear it all the time from professionals, "I just need to be around some people again! I'm tired of being stuck at home working." Find a way to strike the perfect balance between remote and in-person work in order to appeal to all of your A-players.
TRUST & AUTONOMY
Start with trust and autonomy, and then, if your employees give you a reason to distrust or not provide independence, handle that situation as it arises. A-players are ones who appreciate the freedom to make decisions and take ownership of their work.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Probably the number one thing A-players want - a developing career. And why shouldn't they? They put in the work and they would love to see the reward. How can you expand their knowledge? How can you give them more education? How can you get them involved even more? If you're not continually providing new and interesting opportunities, your A-players will outgrow your company.
RECOGNITION
It's one of the most simple things you can do, but yet, so many leaders and organizations fail to do this. The most important thing with recognition is realizing that not all employees want to be recognized the same way. Some are perfectly happy being recognized via a paycheck, while others appreciate a face-to-face thank you. Some even love public recognition. Understanding how your employees want to be recognized is key to ensuring the people who are doing a good job know they are doing a good job.
BEING A PART OF THE BIG PICTURE
This is a big one. And not always easy. But there are things you can do as a company to ensure your A-players feel like they are a part of the big picture.
First step is pinpointing who on your team has the craving for more. They are the ones who usually ask a lot of questions, put in extra hours, sees a project all the way through, or gets upset when others aren't held accountable.
Talk to these A-players one-on-one to understand what motivates them individually. You'll be surprised that it's not money. They're likely to tell you that they want to be a part of something that grows, or maybe they want to have an impact on the success of the company. Listen and learn.
Match these A-players with specific responsibilities or people to help them become a part of the big picture. Responsibilities beyond their normal job duty will help them grow into the employee they want to be. Pairing them up with people who have a larger impact on company decision-making will help these A-players learn and feel a part of the big picture.
In conclusion, offering high salaries is not the only way to retain A-players. While salary is important, it's not what keeps the best people at your company. A-players want to work for companies that value transparency, work-life balance, superb management, accountable team members, clear understanding of everyone's job duties, in-person work, trust and autonomy, career development, recognition, and a part in the big picture. By understanding what A-players want and need, companies can create an environment that fosters loyalty, commitment, and growth..
