If you have smart, talented people on your team, chances are they’ll get calls from recruiters. How should you respond when a competitor is wooing one of your employees? First, watch for signs that someone is thinking of leaving. If a team member is turned down for a promotion or has a project postponed, he might be more receptive to recruiters. If you learn that a valuable employee is considering her options, take action. Have a frank conversation about what the person is thinking, and ask if there are simple things you can do to help her reconsider. (Offering new challenges? Helping her join a board?) And don’t jump to a counteroffer. People leave because they’re unhappy, so a counteroffer means you’re paying to keep an unhappy worker. But even if someone does leave the company, keep it in perspective. Sometimes people just need to move on.
Adapted from "When the Competition Is Trying to Poach Your Top Employee," by Rebecca Knight
