What is the scariest question you can ask your employees? The kind of question you don't want to ask because you're afraid to know the answer. The kind of question because, by asking it, you might be planting the seed for the worst possible outcome. Yeah, a question like that. What is the scariest?
One such question, a staple of Richard Finnegan's STAY Interview model, has managers asking their employees, "When was the last time you thought about leaving?"
Some leaders we talk to are positively overcome with anxiety at the thought of asking such a question.
The thing is, asking the question doesn't make it come true. Asking the question simply means, if it is true -- if an employee is thinking about leaving -- you may be able to do something about it.
One of the most helpless feelings as a manager is when *SURPRISE!* a valued employee submits her resignation. Worse is being blindsided. You had know idea. Had you only known, you could've done something about it.
Many leaders and managers wish they had a crystal ball to see into the future. Or maybe the ability to read people's minds, to gauge what they are thinking. That's especially true today, as the economy recovers post-pandemic. The market favors job seekers right now. Many workers who have just been hanging around for the last year, hunkered down until things get better are starting to pop their heads up and look around to see what opportunities are out there.
What if you make it so the best opportunity for them is right where they are? How about striving for that?
Instead of pretending everything is rosy, ask your employees what's on their mind, including the dreaded, "When was the last time you thought about leaving?"
If you want to learn more about STAY Interviews, join us on Thursday, June 10 @ 9 am for a two-hour session. Register here.