Hello Stay Interviews, Goodbye Talent Loss: A Manager's Playbook

Stay interviews prevent exit interviews!

You can’t afford to lose them. They’re your stars and your solid citizens. You wonder if they’re happy in your organization—and what might keep them there. To find out, you could:
A. Conduct a survey—then try to guess who said what.
B. Take note of their latest tattoos. Is your company logo among them?
C. Ask, “What will keep you here?”

The correct answer is C. It’s the opening line of a great stay interview, and it could make the difference between keeping and losing your best people.

Worried that your talented people will want things you can’t deliver, like more money or a big promotion? Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans have a simple four-step process for dealing with that. Not sure how to get started? They provide dozens of suggested questions and icebreakers. Think you don’t have time? They offer all kinds of creative time-saving options for where, when, and how you can do stay interviews.

Beverly Kaye is the founder of Career Systems International (CSI), a global leader in developing and delivering innovative and action-based talent management solutions. CSI’s clients include more than 60 percent of the Fortune’s 1000 companies.

Sharon Jordan-Evans is president of the Jordan Evans Group and is a pioneer in the field of employee engagement and retention. She is a sought-after keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies such as American Express, Boeing, Disney, Microsoft, Lockheed, Monster, and Universal Studios.