Principals Roundtable Recap: Recruitment and Retention Strategies
Posted by [email protected] on Dec. 8, 2021 / Subscribe 0
In our post-pandemic world, AEC principals are finding that recruiting and retaining employees is their number one concern. “What should we offer and how flexible should we be” were some of the questions explored by the 18 principals attending the SMPS San Diego Principals Roundtable last week. The Roundtable, which was held virtually, was sponsored by Spurlock Landscape Architects.
Some principals expressed frustration that generous offers and concessions are not always met with the enthusiasm they once were. Galit Ryan, principal of Peterson Structural Engineers, noted that companies are struggling right now. Some employees are leaving the industry, and some are being “poached” by other companies. Others want to continue working remotely, although working remotely does not always work for design teams that need in-person contact.
To help everyone sort out the situation, two facilitators joined in the conversation to guide the discussion and offer their perspectives. They were Summer Poole, Director of Learning and Development at Yale University, and Megan Yoo Schneider of the Municipal Water District of Orange County Board of Directors. Summer said from her experience, it’s the “sticky” stuff that you want to offer – those things that make an employee stay or a prospective new employee want to join your firm.
The Gen-X generation, those born after 1995, is becoming an important part of the workforce equation. According to Summer, the Gen-X-ers want to work at a place where they feel they are wanted, where they can make a significant contribution to an organization.
They are very receptive to the offer of training and development as part of an employment package. It makes them feel they are important because the company is investing in them, Summer said, adding that it also helps to forge a bond of trust between employer and employee.
Farzad Tadayon, managing principal of Salas O’Brien, noted that a lot of issues firm principals are currently dealing with are ones that were there all along – the pandemic just brought them to the surface.
Leigh Kyle, managing principal of Spurlock Landscape Architects, shared a successful strategy her firm used recently to help build camaraderie among the staff. Management decided to do something fun and hold a “cook-off.” Participants were asked to bring in their contribution on a Thursday, which normally is a day that staff work from home. Not only did all the staff participate, she said, they also decided to come in and work in the office that day, although Thursday is usually a “work-at-home” day.
David Lecours, principal of Lecours Design, suggested firms examine their traditions and rituals. What are the things your firm does that defines your culture? he asked. That’s often what makes people want to stay because they want to feel a sense of belonging.
Noting that most employers conduct exit interviews to find out why someone has decided to leave a company, Summer suggested firm principals consider conducting a stay interview.
Ask an employee why they are staying rather than leaving, she said, adding that should help management discover what the company is doing right!
The Principals Roundtable is a series of quarterly meetings sponsored by the Chapter to provide principals with a forum to discuss issues of importance to the industry. The next Roundtable is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 8, 2022, from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm. The Planning Committee will provide attendees with Power Point slides and links to their research on the topic. Watch this site for updates and registration information. Please contact one of the members of the planning committee if you would like to sponsor the next Roundtable.
Galit Ryan, Principal of Peterson Structural Engineers, [email protected]
Kamala Kuresman, Director of Business Development at NV5, [email protected]
Farzad Tadayon, Managing Principal of Salas O’Brien, farzad.tadayon@salasobriencom
By Beth Bateman, Owner, Bateman Communications [email protected]
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