Skills shortages are the problem - and the opportunity.
SMEs are facing their biggest challenge: the shortage of skilled workers.
The problem has long been known, but the solution remains a mystery for many. While most companies rely on recruiting, they often fail miserably.
The consequences? Enormous costs due to staff turnover, unfilled positions and dwindling productivity.
But that doesn’t have to be the case.
The good news:
There is a better way. The key lies in retention instead of recruiting.
It’s about not just keeping employees, but inspiring them – so that they stay, get involved and excel. Only then does recruiting make sense.
Skills shortage - the true costs
The hidden costs of the shortage of skilled workers are often massively underestimated. They add up to millions per year. A look at the three biggest cost drivers:
About Christian Conrad
In over 30 years as an entrepreneur, manager and author, I have understood what makes companies successful: a culture that attracts and retains people. With my practical book Magnetic Corporate Culture and the Engagement Booster program, I support SMEs in fully exploiting the potential of their employees – measurably and sustainably.
- The result: less fluctuation, healthy teams, higher productivity and an employer brand that inspires.
“The Engagementbooster program is an important building block in our ongoing transformation. We are already noticing how the surveys and initial workshops are releasing blockages in the organization and bringing about positive changes. With the way he moderates the process and the individual steps, Christian and his team help us to shape this important process in a structured, goal-oriented and proactive way.”
Nils Beckmann, CEO delta pronatura GmbH
“The Engagementbooster program has significantly increased the number and quality of our applicants and noticeably improved the mood and performance of our teams and the company as a whole. This is not just a gut feeling, but can also be proven quantitatively through our regular employee surveys.”
Peter Szabo, CEO Energiekontor AG
“Christian did an excellent job of picking up and inspiring our management team of 40 people at our strategy event. With his excellent facilitation, he not only sensitized us, but also delivered concrete results. We came away from the offsite with a clear understanding of the importance of employee satisfaction and engagement, practical measures and valuable impetus for our growing organization.”
Klaus Enke, CEO Craftview GmbH
The solution: Retention instead of recruitment
Most companies proceed according to the motto: “We need to recruit more.” But what’s the point if the boat is full of holes? My approach: first plug the holes, then sail faster.
Retention is like customer loyalty in sales:
Keeping existing customers is more profitable than constantly acquiring new ones. Applied to the workplace, this means turning employees into enthusiastic ambassadors for your company.
The key? Engagement.
As studies by Gallup show, emotional commitment is the decisive factor for low fluctuation, more applications and higher productivity.
My 3x3x3 approach makes retention measurable and easy to implement:
Elements:
Measurement: Identify where your organization stands.
Habits: Establish unifying rituals.
Processes: Create structures that accelerate transformation.
Habits:
Connective listening: Reduces misunderstandings and strengthens trust.
Positive reinforcement: Scale success through appreciation.
Feedforward: Promote solutions instead of problems.
Levels:
Start at the top management level.
Integration of all managers.
Rollout to the entire organization.
The result: enthusiastic employees, a magnetic corporate culture and a competitive advantage that lasts.
