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According to Ram Charan, an expert and author on developing corporate talent, “Chief executives should act now to prevent defections of key employees this year…Among Fortune 500 CEO’s, the intent to put people as a key item is high. But in actual practice, the percentage really doing a thorough job is less than 25%…CEOs like Apple’s Steve Jobs have figured out how to have more people working together despite corporate ‘silos.’ That is central to winning in the marketplace.” Wall Street Journal, “Message to CEO’s: Do More to Keep Your Key Employees.”

What can you do now to demonstrate that you actually do value employees? How about providing tangible proof by developing your key people? Training your high performing talent not only indicates to them that you are forward looking, but it also encourages creativity. When creativity and innovation could position your organization to come out on top after a downturn, you can foster the collaboration and streamlined processes necessary to achieve the agility that best serves customers.

Innovative products enhance opportunities to engage customers. Innovation doesn’t just mean new product development; it also means understanding and fulfilling customers’ personal and self-satisfaction goals. By enhancing skills, employees can improve their ability to understand and focus on customers’ needs. Employees learn to ask the right questions and listen for vital cues.