3 Surefire Ways to Drive Your Finest Employees to a Competitor

If you are guilty of any of the leadership blunders mentioned below, mend your ways or prepare for costly turnovers.

learn more about Tom Borg

By Tom Borg

Shutterstock

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While there are few things more crucial to the success of an enterprise than a loyal and hard-working team, some leaders have been known to underestimate their most valuable assets.

If you don't want to send top-performing employees packing -- and into the open arms of a competitor -- avoid the following leadership blunders at all costs:

1. Create a predatory culture. In one of my first sales positions, I remember working for a business owner who consistently encouraged employees to get the sale even if it meant violating a leads system supposedly based on ethics. In his eyes, it did not matter who got the commission -- all that mattered was that his company was making money.

Related: A Budding Entrepreneur Says 'I Quit' to Her Boss as Millions of People Watch

Eventually, one by one, the best salespeople left. And now, the company is a shadow of what it once was -- all because it was built on unethical foundations. "What impacts employees' decisions to leave a company first and foremost," says Lynn Flinn of the women's business network EWF International, "is management and whether they trust them."

Leaders that cannot be trusted are fodder for the daily gossip that plagues small and large businesses alike.

2. Yell and scream. All of us know sharp business minds who just happen to be chaotic managers. One colleague I knew had a very loud and penetrating voice, that -- whether he knew it or not -- was very intimidating. While he had a good heart, he wasn't able to express his views without yelling and screaming.

Related: How to Snap Back After You Blow Up at Your Staff

As the business writer Amy Levin-Epstein puts it, losing your temper at work is a surefire way to undermine your authority as a manager. If you feel you may have crossed the line in this department, ask for unbiased feedback from trusted colleagues.

3. Play favorites. Nothing is more de-motivating than a business owner or manager that gives special treatment to one employee -- whether because of preexisting relationships, physical appearances or any other reason at all. This behavior festers deeply within the other team members who feel consequently slighted.

The late Cavett Robert put it this way: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." In other words, if you don't demonstrate that you truly have your employee's best interests at heart, you run the risk of alienating them from the outset.

Related: Four Ways to Foster Fairness in the Workplace

Tom Borg

President of Tom Borg Consulting

Tom Borg is a business expert who works with small and mid-size companies to profitably improve customer acquisition and retention and employee performance. He does this through his consulting, speaking, and professional writing. For more information on how he can help you and your company call   (734) 404-5909 or email him at: tom@tomborg.com or visit his website at: www.@tomborgconsulting.com

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

This 61-Year-Old Grandma Who Made $35,000 in the Medical Field Now Earns 7 Figures in Retirement
A 'Quiet Promotion' Will Cost You a Lot — Use This Expert's 4-Step Strategy to Avoid It
3 Red Flags on Your LinkedIn Profile That Scare Clients Away
'Everyone Is Freaking Out.' What's Going On With Silicon Valley Bank? Federal Government Takes Control.
Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Business News

'Things Will Go Wrong.' Google Releases Its Chatbot Bard With Caution.

The AI-powered search tool went live today to a limited number of users in the U.S. and the U.K.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas To Start Right Now

To start one of these home-based businesses, you don't need a lot of funding -- just energy, passion and the drive to succeed.

Marketing

How Do I Know I'm Getting the Most Out of My Business? The Answer Is Obvious — Yet Overlooked.

Explore how you can leverage first-party data to drive better results and make more informed decisions.