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So what do small business computer resellers and systems
integrators typically do to manage the enormous turnover challenge and its
associated costs with network systems engineers?
Develop
well-defined career paths for network systems engineers and other key
technical employees.
No one,
especially your highly-motivated network systems engineers, wants to feel
like their career is being held-back, or that their options are being
“blocked”.
Make sure
each person on staff, especially network systems engineers, has a
well-defined career path within your company. You may also want to
supplement this with some type of mentoring program. (This can be as
simple as pairing up a new hire with a more senior staff member for
“doing lunch”, at the company’s expense, once every month or two.)
You may also want to have each staff member and their direct supervisor
mutually revise the staff member’s job description at least twice a
year.
Insist on an open-door
policy.
Each staff
member, especially network systems engineers, should have a direct
pipeline into the “top brass” in the company. There’s nothing more
frustrating than a small company with big-company bureaucracy and
politics.
Provide regular
feedback and compensation increases.
Most IT
service firms, both large and small, have recognized that the concept of
an “annual” review is no longer frequent enough for industries moving
at “Internet speed.” This process should also include frequent merit
and competitive adjustments to salary. Make sure to be proactive about
this process. Often times, small gestures go a long way toward showing
your network systems engineers and other key technical staff that you are
truly on their side.
Set the right goals.
There’s
always a fine line between scheduling aggressively to fully-utilize your
network systems engineer staff and burning them out with long weeks and
excessively high pressure. It’s important to have realistic goals and
deadlines, as well as some type of “relief valve” to combat the
demands of long hours.
Provide training and
encourage learning.
For network
systems engineers and other technical staff, staying trained and working
with leading-edge technology often tops the list for what drives job
satisfaction.
In looking
at how choice assignments are doled out and how training resources are
allocated, it’s crucial to stress teamwork, cross training, and
camaraderie in the continual peer-to-peer learning process.
There’s
nothing more frustrating to technical staff, like your network systems
engineers, when one person has the “keys to the kingdom” and that one
person refuses to share their knowledge with others.
Make sure
to reward employees, not just for what they know, but also for how
effectively they share their knowledge with others.
During tough times,
keep the channels open.
Make sure
to keep your staff in the loop during tough financial times and during
potential buyouts and takeovers. It’s important to be honest about
what’s going on and to let them know what steps you’re taking to
protect their interests.
Reward loyalty.
Reevaluate
your bonuses and benefits, and increase their levels substantially based
on length of your service with your firm. Fortune 1000 companies
traditionally increased the paid-vacation benefit after five years. For
your firm, it may be more appropriate to increase the amount of paid
vacation after two or three years, rather than waiting for five. Also,
develop bonus programs that are tied to staff, especially your network
system engineers, staying on to complete certain pre-defined strategic
projects.
(These
types of bonus programs can actually save your company a great deal, as
staff downtime with network systems engineers, during the middle of a
major project can be extraordinarily expensive.)
Make your company a
“fun” place to work.
When the
workload pressure gets intense, or when the excitement level begins to
dwindle during repetitive roll outs, it’s important to remember the need
to make your firm a “cool” place to work. While it’s always
“fun” for staff to receive big bonus checks, your staff, even network
systems engineers, may really enjoy playing on company-sponsored softball
or bowling teams, or paintball outings.
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