The key to filling your business with loyal leaders that in turn develops a buzzing culture is through a staff retention strategy.
But first you need to find the right balance between boredom, stretch, and panic within your team.
People thrive when they are challenged in the right way—but challenges need to excite and stretch, not overwhelm or stagnate.
Understanding the three zones
To retain top talent and keep your leaders and team engaged, it’s essential to understand the difference between these three states:
- Boredom zone: When we aren’t being challenged, we quickly lose motivation. Without new opportunities to grow or develop, we may start disengaging—and disengagement is a fast track to turnover.
- Stretch Zone: This is where people thrive. It’s the space where we are presented with new challenges, are encouraged to learn, and feel supported to grow. Stretching is where excitement lives—where teams feel empowered to perform at their best.
- Panic Zone: On the flip side, if people are pushed too far, they move into panic mode. This leads to stress and burnout.
Why the stretch zone supports staff retention
A workplace that provides the right level of stretch creates an environment where people feel valued, energised, and excited. They are motivated by challenges but supported enough to know they won’t fail without help.
But when teams are either under utilised or overwhelmed, dissatisfaction grows. A good staff retention strategy recognises this balance and works to create the right level of stretch for every employee.
How to build ‘stretch’ into your staff retention strategy
Here’s how you can build the right environment to stretch your team in the best way possible:
1. Identify an individual’s position
Start by understanding where your people currently are. Are they bored, stretched, or in panic mode? Have open and honest conversations with your team to gauge their engagement levels and workload balance. You might find our 121 template helpful here.
2. Create opportunities for growth
Stretch doesn’t mean pressure—it means creating new opportunities for employees to grow and develop. This could include:
- Assigning them new responsibilities that align with their strengths and interests
- Offering learning and development programmes
- Providing opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects
3. Balance support and challenge
Stretch works best when it’s paired with the right support. This means regular 121s, clear communication, and leaders who are present to guide their teams through challenges.
4. Celebrate progress, not just results
To keep people motivated, celebrate their growth and progress along the way—not just the final results. Recognise their efforts in tackling challenges, even when things don’t go perfectly.
Why this matters for staff retention
A staff retention strategy that incorporates healthy stretch will ensure your team feels engaged, supported, and excited about their work. Happy people don’t just stick around—they perform at their best, drive innovation, and contribute to a culture that everyone talks about.
So, ask yourself:
- Are your people bored, stretched, or panicked?
- What is your business doing to provide the right level of challenge and support?
When was the last time you positively stretched your team?
Let’s talk about how to tailor a retention strategy that works for your business.
