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4 strategies to improve IT and tech talent retention
CIOs and IT leaders can play an important role in boosting tech talent retention. Learn how these strategies can motivate employees, which will enable companies' long-term success.
High IT worker turnover can put pressure on CIOs and IT leaders and lead to several negative consequences for companies, including reduced revenue.
IT workers leave for various reasons. They can get bored easily, especially if they don't feel challenged by tech projects. IT staff might also feel disengaged from the company due to factors like a low IT budget, unreasonable demands and a lack of recognition from company leaders.
CIOs and IT leaders must act to avoid IT talent departures.
How losing IT talent affects companies
Employee departures from any department negatively affect organizations in various ways.
The hiring process requires employee time and money, and employee departures result in a loss of institutional knowledge. Departures can decrease overall employee morale and productivity, and a high employee turnover rate can be an indication of a bigger problem, such as a toxic workplace culture.
CIOs and IT leaders must work with other teams, including HR, to prevent employee departures before they occur.
4 strategies to retain IT staff
These strategies can help CIOs and IT leaders retain employees and improve their company's tech talent turnover rate.
1. Understand employees' challenges and needs
Employees want to feel respected and heard, so CIOs must show they value their workers.
Workers might be dealing with personal situations, like family problems, that can negatively affect their work. If someone experiences these issues and works in an already poorly managed environment, it can lead to workplace conflict.
CIOs and IT leaders must become better acquainted with their employees so they can improve their relationships with them and better understand what they're going through. A simple question can serve as a starting point: What can the company do to improve IT staff's jobs?
Off-site team-building events and social gatherings can help improve employee engagement, as can publicly recognizing IT team members for their achievements.
2. Include IT professionals in decision-making
Many IT professionals feel they aren't included in important business decisions and may believe company leaders see them as disposable. CIOs should share what's going on behind the scenes whenever possible so IT professionals feel involved.
In addition, company executives should engage with IT staff about critical business decisions so IT workers feel appreciated. IT staff could also share insights that leaders haven't heard elsewhere. Company leaders should also ask IT workers for their input on areas that don't directly involve their department.
Reaching out to IT staff will demonstrate that leaders value all employees' contributions.
3. Encourage continuing education
A frequent gap in the management of IT professionals -- and one of the biggest contributors to their departures -- is a lack of sponsorship for continuing education, such as conferences, courses and time off for self-study. Almost all aspects of IT are continuously evolving, and ongoing employee training and development are important for workers and their companies.
CIOs should consider allocating a portion of their budget to ongoing education. Then, they must make sure workers know about the available funds and are using them.
4. Hold IT staff accountable
IT talent will progress more quickly when held to clear metrics. Requiring that IT staff meet certain standards will help them succeed as employees, which will make them happier at work. CIOs and other leaders should work with HR to establish these requirements for IT staff.
Establishing ways to measure IT staff progress will also make managing those employees easier, as IT leaders will be able to clearly see how their staff has progressed as workers.
CIOs should also demonstrate that they are open to feedback from IT staff. Employees might leave the company if they feel like they're held to unrealistic standards.
Kevin Beaver is an independent information security consultant, writer and professional speaker with Atlanta-based Principle Logic, LLC. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Beaver specializes in performing vulnerability and penetration tests, as well as virtual CISO consulting work.
