As a business owner, your staff is a vital part of turning your passion into profit. Naturally, you want to do everything possible to encourage your team to become the best they can be. An essential part of that is identifying and rewarding top performers. Because these important team members are essential to your success and keeping them on the team is critical.

But no matter how big your company is, you’re likely to experience some turnover. When any of the people you count on the most leave, it’s dreadful. Even when it’s just a temporary leave of absence, there’s still a hole in your team. Moving forward and coping can be a challenge. So, what do you do if important team members move on to different opportunities or take an extended leave?

Talk about it with the rest of your team.

You, as the leader, will likely be the first to know if and when anyone chooses to withdraw. It can be a lot to have on your shoulders, but how and what you tell the remaining staff is up to you.

Before you say anything, give the departee a chance to make the announcement themselves. This way, you can head off any rumors and ease other staff members’ concerns.

If you’re the one to inform the rest of your staff about the loss, remember that there’s nothing shameful about someone moving on, so honesty and transparency are the best policies. Be as candid as possible with your remaining staff while also protecting the privacy of the departee. Keep in mind that what you can say may be a legal grey area.

Make time to address the change.

Losing a valuable and well-liked team member can be very emotional for coworkers. A resignation can impact the morale of those left behind and hinder productivity. As a business owner, it’s part of your job to remain aware of how it affects them and be supportive. It’s common for others to wonder why this person is resigning. They’re also likely to be concerned about the effect this loss will have on their workload. They’ll be looking to leadership for reassurance. That’s why making time to answer their questions and concerns is essential. The last thing you want to do is further damage the morale of the remaining crew.

Don’t rush into hiring.

It may be beneficial to gain some clarity on the requirements of the newly opened position. As your company has grown, the job responsibilities of each position have likely evolved. Instead of rushing to fill the opening, take some time to redefine the requirements of the position. This will create a job description that clearly communicates your expectations and help attract the best possible candidates to your company.

Focus on who, not what.

Finding the best fit, not only for the position but for your company, is imperative, but are experience and skill level the only things to consider in a candidate? Both are important but don’t necessarily make staff members amazing. Great team members do more than just bring relevant skills to their position. How they fit into company culture is just as important as what they do.

Find the ideal replacement.

A spectacular team member is hard to replace, and choosing the right replacement isn’t easy, especially when choosing between a large group of applicants. That’s why hiring can be a real challenge for most business owners.

Sourcing is critical to finding the right person for the job. Fortunately, there are numerous sourcing tools and recruitment marketplaces on the internet if you don’t have an in-house recruiter. Also, consider that the right person for the job may be right under your nose, and sourcing internally may be beneficial. There’s a good chance of finding someone with the necessary experience in-house.

Planning ahead for your interview can also make the process easier. Ask the right interview questions.

In conclusion, losing an important team member is never easy. But it happens, and with planning, the transition can be much smoother for everyone. The most important thing is to focus on your remaining team and be there to support them. Listen, answer questions and help them move forward.

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What To Do When An Important Member Leaves Your Team