How to Retain your Top Performers. With Lauren Karan

Bean There, Done That!

In this episode of Bean There, Done That!, host Phil Di Bella dives deep into the crucial topic of retaining top talent with special guest Lauren Karan. Lauren, an expert in recruitment and organisational coaching, shares her extensive knowledge on creating effective hiring strategies and fostering a culture of retention. They explore the importance of understanding your business's pain points, aligning hiring strategies with growth goals, and continuously building a pipeline of potential hires. Lauren emphasises the significance of leadership, inclusivity, and emotional engagement in retaining staff and offers practical tips on interviewing and onboarding processes. Whether you're in hospitality or any other industry, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you build and maintain a high-performing team.

Key Topics and Themes:

• The importance of retaining top talent versus merely recruiting
• Strategies for proactive hiring and avoiding desperation in recruitment
• Creating a robust and effective recruitment process
• Utilising behavioural questions and psychometric testing in interviews
• The role of leadership and culture in employee retention
• Practical tips for interviewing and selecting the right candidates
• The value of involving your team in hiring decisions
• Balancing competitive wages with performance expectations
• Building a sense of belonging and emotional engagement in your team
• Recognising when and how to promote within your organisation

Takeaways:

• Effective recruitment processes are crucial for improving retention outcomes.
• Always be on the lookout for great talent and maintain a continuous hiring mindset.
• Leadership and culture are key drivers of employee retention; make your team feel valued and heard.
• Behavioural questions in interviews help reveal true capabilities and fit.
• Competitive wages should be balanced with clear performance expectations and a strong value proposition.
• Involve your team in hiring decisions to foster a sense of ownership and belonging.
• Promote from within by identifying and nurturing employees who take initiative and show leadership potential.

Time-Stamped Key Points:

• 00:05 - Introduction to the main topic: retaining top talent
• 01:30 - Phil introduces guest Lauren Karan and her background
• 03:45 - The importance of linking hiring strategy with business goals
• 08:20 - Tips for hiring in a competitive and transient market
• 15:10 - The significance of behavioural interviewing and asking for specific examples
• 22:30 - The role of leadership and culture in retaining employees
• 28:45 - Real-life examples of effective customer service and team dynamics
• 34:50 - Balancing wages with performance and commercial viability
• 41:20 - Identifying and promoting top performers within your team
• 50:10 - Strategies for continuous recruitment and building a talent pipeline
• 57:00 - Closing thoughts and the importance of simple, actionable steps

About Our Guest:
Lauren Karan is a specialist in technical and engineering recruitment within the building and civil construction market. With over 12 years of experience, Lauren holds a degree in psychology, accreditation in behavioural interviewing and psychometric testing, and certification as an organisational coach. Her hands-on, strategic approach to recruitment has set her apart in the industry, making her a sought-after expert in finding and retaining top talent.

Links and Resources:

• Book: "Belonging" by Owen Eastwood
• Book: "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect" by Will Guidara
• Podcast: Building Doors by Lauren Karan

Don't miss this insightful episode with Lauren Karan as we uncover the secrets to retaining top talent and building a high-performing team. Listen now on your favourite podcast platform and accelerate your potential with The Coffee Commune.

Produced by The Podcast Boss. For more information, visit thepodcastboss.com.

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