Last updated on May 8, 2024

What do you do if your top talent keeps leaving the trade show industry?

The trade show industry is dynamic and competitive, often demanding the best from its professionals. However, when your top talent starts to depart, it can be a significant setback. You might find yourself questioning what went wrong or what could be done to retain these valuable team members. Understanding the reasons behind their departure and implementing strategies to keep your remaining staff engaged and satisfied is crucial. It's about creating an environment that not only attracts but also nurtures and retains the industry's best.

1 Understand Why

To address the issue of top talent leaving, you first need to understand the underlying causes. Engage with your team through exit interviews or anonymous surveys to gather insights. Often, reasons may include better opportunities, lack of growth, or dissatisfaction with the work environment. By pinpointing these factors, you can begin to tailor your retention strategies more effectively. Remember, the goal is to identify patterns that can be addressed, not just to collect individual grievances.

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Nicolas BEHBAHANI

LinkedIn Top Voice 2024 | Global People Analytics Leader | Future of Work | Leading Global HR Analytics, Driving Business Growth
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Understanding why talents leave a company is always interesting because it helps resolve the problems that current employees face in their daily lives. You should know that the reasons for departure can be multiple. With exit interviews and their correct exploitation allow employers to have the major causes of departures but this is not enough and it is also necessary to carry out more investigation to understand the real reasons, particularly through periodic surveys but also with stays- interviews conducted by managers and HR.

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Janet B.

Tutor / Human Talent Management /JW
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By prioritizing the needs and concerns of employees, companies not only prevent dissatisfaction and turnover but also nurture a positive corporate culture conducive to collaboration and respect. Companies should evaluate their corporate culture: Is it a healthy work environment? Is collaboration and respect encouraged? It demonstrates a commitment to employee welfare, leading to higher retention rates and ultimately, a more productive and thriving workplace.

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2 Enhance Engagement

Once you understand why talent is departing, focus on enhancing engagement with your current team. Create opportunities for professional development and foster a culture that values innovation and creativity. Recognize and reward the contributions of your staff regularly, and ensure that their work environment is conducive to productivity and job satisfaction. Engaged employees are more likely to stay, contribute to a positive company culture, and deliver exceptional results at trade shows.

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Stan Kruss

Exhibit Stands Proven to Win Customers. | CEO at Expo Centric | I built Australia's leading exhibition stand company from 15 years of industry excellence. | Immerse your customers with experiential trade shows.
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Our greatest asset is our people. And the greatest limiter to a company’s growth is the need to constantly train up staff. Momentum is lost, client relationships falter, and often team morale can be impacted. Stay close to your team, listen, and act on concerns if needed. Monetary rewards aren’t the only option for retaining good staff, use other incentives, but make sure they’re ones that appeal to the individual. We all want to be valued in our workplaces.

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3 Offer Growth

Career advancement is a significant motivator for many professionals. To retain your top talent, provide clear pathways for growth within your organization. This could involve mentorship programs, training sessions, or a transparent promotion policy. When employees see a future with your company and understand how they can progress, they are more likely to remain loyal and motivated.

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4 Foster Community

Building a sense of community within your team can be a powerful retention tool. Encourage collaboration and team-building activities that go beyond the workplace. When employees feel connected to their colleagues and to the broader mission of the company, their commitment to their role and the organization strengthens. This sense of belonging can make them think twice before deciding to leave for another opportunity.

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5 Reassess Compensation

Competitive compensation is a crucial factor in talent retention. Regularly assess industry standards to ensure that your pay scales and benefits are in line with or surpass what competitors offer. Consider not just salaries but also bonuses, health benefits, retirement plans, and other perks that contribute to overall job satisfaction. If your compensation packages are lacking, top talent will inevitably seek better offers elsewhere.

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6 Embrace Flexibility

The modern workforce values flexibility. To keep top talent in the trade show industry, consider offering flexible working arrangements such as remote work options or flexible hours. This not only helps in accommodating personal commitments but also demonstrates trust in your employees' ability to manage their responsibilities effectively. Flexibility can lead to increased job satisfaction and loyalty, making it less likely for talent to leave.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Stephanie Selesnick

International Exhibition Connector, Relationship, and Revenue Builder
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A lot of this has been broken down, but if your best employees or those you've identified with the most potential, it's a combination of things. Say thank you and "job well done." Don't underestimate these two things. BE KIND. Be reasonable and recognize everyone has a life outside of the office. Also: Pay more money. Provide benefits - good insurance, generous vacation/personal days. Reward hard work. Give more comp/paid days off after events. If someone works a whole weekend (including travel to show site or home), those count as 2 days, not one (I've seen that happen too many times!). Show a path for advancement. Then follow up on it. Be the kind of work place you would want to stay at forever.

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What do you do if your top talent keeps leaving the trade show industry?

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2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand Why

2 Enhance Engagement

3 Offer Growth

4 Foster Community

5 Reassess Compensation

6 Embrace Flexibility

7 Here’s what else to consider

Trade Shows

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What do you do if your top talent keeps leaving the trade show industry?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand Why

2 Enhance Engagement

3 Offer Growth

4 Foster Community

5 Reassess Compensation

6 Embrace Flexibility

7 Here’s what else to consider

Trade Shows

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