Hire and Retain a Diverse Staff: Nurture a Positive Staff Community
Candidates are seeking workplaces where they can intertwine their beliefs with those of the company, and work together on a common vision of purpose and success.
– Natalie Baumgartner
INTRO
This activity will help you analyze your current recruitment and retention efforts. Developing and nurturing a staff community aligned with your school’s identity and vision is key.
OBJECTIVES
- Analyze your current staff recruitment, onboarding, and retention practices
- Brainstorm 3 changes you can make to your current practices to better attract and retain staff who reflect your school community
This activity is designed to foster effective leadership practices.
1
Read this summary by REL Northwest REL about recruiting and retaining teachers of color.
2
Read this article from the Harvard Business Review about building a culture that aligns to people’s values.
SUMMARY:
Are leaders effectively driving culture?
- According to a recent survey by the National Bureau of Economic Research, 85% of CEOs and CFOs believe an unhealthy culture leads to unethical behavior.
- What’s more, that same survey found that nine out of 10 CFOs believe improving company culture would increase their company’s business value and performance.
- However, Nearly half of employees (45%) say leadership is minimally or not at all committed to improving culture.
- TIP FOR IMPROVEMENT: Including employees in the culture-building process; encouraging and utilizing employee feedback and input; and frequent, meaningful, real-time recognition can all help create a workplace culture employees want to be a part of.
How can leaders build cultures of empowerment?
- Improving role fit
- Employees should be encouraged to focus on the work they’re most passionate about and where they feel they provide the most value.
- Establishing connections in the workplace
- Employee experience is greatly affected by day-to-day relationships, and that’s why it’s important to give employees opportunities to strengthen those relationships.
- Connecting roles to purpose
- Employers must develop a culture that reinforces the important role each employee plays within their organization.
3
REFLECT: What are three takeaways you can use during your next hiring cycle, or to retain your current staff?
TIPS
- Use this reflection tool to more deeply analyze your current recruitment and retention efforts.
- You will be prompted to create your own copy of the Google Doc reflection tool.
Responses