Love 'Em or Lose 'Em, Sixth Edition: Getting Good People to Stay

by Beverly Kaye, Sharon Jordan-Evans

Overview

This sixth edition of the number one bestselling employee retention book in the world (over 800,000 copies sold) puts a new emphasis on diversity and inclusion but keeps the same appealing format: twenty-six simple strategies from A to Z.

Despite booms and busts, technology advances, talent wars, layoffs, and even a global pandemic, people want what they’ve always wanted. Employees want—and now expect—meaningful work, supportive bosses, regular recognition, and a chance to learn and grow. And managers want their amazing people to stay—for at least a little while longer. For two decades, this Wall Street Journal bestseller—over 800,000 sold—has offered twenty-six simple strategies, from A to Z, that managers can use to address their employees’ real concerns and keep them engaged. 

The authors have gone over every word of the previous edition, revising, updating, and streamlining. This edition includes a timely focus on diversity and inclusion in every chapter. For example, chapter 6 focuses on family. Different cultures view family responsibilities differently, so the authors address how to take that into consideration when a treasured employee asks for extended leave to care for a grandparent. And a new section called “Conversations That Count” offers discussion questions for sparking deeper conversation around the topics in the book. 

This new edition will ensure that Love ’Em or Lose ’Em will continue to help managers all over the world create a supportive workplace culture so they can fight burnout and keep the people they can least afford to lose.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523089352
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	146,349
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Beverly Kaye is founder and Chairwoman of Career Systems International. She is a recipient of ASTD’s Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award and is the author of Up Is Not the Only Way.

Sharon Jordan-Evans is president of the Jordan Evans Group and is a sought-after keynote presenter and a certified executive coach. Kaye and Jordan-Evans are the coauthors of Love It, Don’t Leave It: 26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Proven Approach to Managing and Leading xi

Get What You Need from This Book xvii

1 Ask * Why Do You Stay 1

How will you know what they want?

2 Buck * It Stops Here 11

Who is realty in charge of keeping them?

3 Careers * Support Growth 17

How are you helping build their future?

4 Dignity * Show Respect 25

How will they know that you truly respect them?

5 Enrich * Energize The Job 35

How often do your people have to leave to learn something new?

6 Family * Get Friendly 43

How often do your employees have to choose between work and family?

7 Goals * Expand Options 51

How many career paths do they see?

8 Hire * Fit Is It 61

What was your best hire ever? How can you repeat that?

9 Information * Share It 73

Information-do you have it? Hoard it?

10 Jerk * Don't Be One 83

Who is the jerk at work?

11 Kicks * Get Some 93

How often do they smile? How often do you smile?

12 Link * Create Connections 101

Is your organization easy to leave?

13 Mentor * Be One 111

What ore they really learning from you?

14 Numbers * Run Them 121

What is the real cost of talent loss?

15 Opportunities * Mine Them 129

How opportunity-rich is your organization?

16 Passion * Encourage It 137

When did they last say, "I love my job"?

17 Question * Reconsider The Rules 147

Which would you rather keep: the rules or the people?

18 Reward * Provide Recognition 159

Which matters more: praise or pay?

19 Space * Give It 171

How many of your employees feel like they're on a short leash?

20 Truth * Tell It 181

How many of your employees really know where they stand?

21 Understand * Listen Deeper 191

When you tune out, how do you miss out?

22 Values * Define And Mine 201

What do they really value most?

23 Wellness * Sustain It 209

Are they sick or tired?

24 X-plore Generations * Beware And Be Aware 219

How does understanding generations help you manage individuals?

25 Yield * Power Down 233

Why would you give power away?

26 Zenith * Go For It 241

How wide is your knowing-doing gap?

Conversations That Count 245

Notes 251

Acknowledgments 255

Index 257

About the Authors 267

Beyond the Book 269

Editorial Reviews

The future of work actually has little to do with technology, AI, or algorithms. It’s all about people, organizations, and how we manage people within those organizations. Bev and Sharon’s book will guide and advise leaders at all levels in making the right people-focused decisions. Readers will find specific and practical ideas to help them be more inclusive and empathetic leaders.” —Josh Bersin, global industry analyst

“To be a great team, you need outstanding players. The authors show you how to engage your outstanding players and keep them on your team for a long time.” —Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach, Duke University Men’s Basketball

“The principles laid out in Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em offer opportunity for people committed to advancing true equity and inclusion in their businesses.” —Liji Thomas, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Southern California Edison

“A passionate book about how to deal with the most vexing problem organizations now confront – attracting and retaining the best talent. With knowing wit and practical intelligence, Kaye and Jordan-Evans give us elegant solutions and engaging examples. Based on a solid foundation of broad-based research, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em will give you a sense of urgency, a renewed faith in your own leadership abilities, and delight that you took the time to read and use it.” —Jim Kouzes, coauthor of The Leadership Challenge and Dean's Executive Professor of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

“The future of work actually has little to do with technology, AI, or algorithms. It’s all about people, organizations, and how we manage people within those organizations. Bev and Sharon’s book will guide and advise leaders at all levels in making the right people-focused decisions. Readers will find specific and practical ideas to help them be more inclusive and empathetic leaders.”  —Josh Bersin, global industry analyst

“To be a great team, you need outstanding players. The authors show you how to engage your outstanding players and keep them on your team for a long time.” —Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach, Duke University Men’s Basketball

“The principles laid out in Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em offer opportunity for anybody committed to advancing true equity and inclusion in their businesses. The future of inclusive organizations lies in mitigating bias across talent management practices, and this book provides key practices to consider. Kudos to Bev Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans for timeless wisdom on retaining and engaging talent!” —Liji Thomas, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Southern California Edison 

“This sixth edition is a strong “shout out” to the importance of using a diversity and inclusion lens as leaders practice effective engagement and retention strategies.  Bev and Sharon say, “Love ‘Em practices support both engagement and inclusion.”  Inclusion must be practiced in parallel with Love ‘Em efforts or you risk losing key members of your diverse workforce.  Read this book if you want tips for how to include, engage and retain your talent.” —Julie O’Mara, Board Chair, The Centre for Global Inclusion

“It’s no wonder this book has had a 20-year life.  The twenty-six practices that Bev and Sharon describe continue to give any leader at any level the “how tos” of engagement and retention.” —Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author of Triggers, Mojo, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

“Our global strategy is based on recruiting and developing the best talent.  Retaining and engaging that talent globally is crucial to every manager’s business goals.  Love Em or Lose Em is their playbook.”—J. Craig Mundy, Senior Vice-President, Ingersoll Rand

“I’m a big fan of the ‘stay interview’ and its power; nothing speaks louder than a manager who genuinely cares. That’s just one great idea from this latest edition of Love ’Em or Lose ’Em, which should be at every manager’s fingertips!”—Rebecca Ray, Senior Vice President of Human Capital, The Conference Board

"The biggest challenge facing organizations today is keeping their good people. Love 'Em or Lose 'Em can help you build a productive and healthy organization that people will not want to leave." —Ken Blanchard, coauthor, The One Minute Manager® and The 3 Keys to Empowerment

“Talent matters. Few dispute this truth. But keeping great talent continues to challenge many companies. This marvelous book offers specific tools and hundreds of examples of how to care for people. Love ’Em or Lose ’Em is the best treatise available on retaining talent.” —Dave Ulrich, Professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and coauthor of HR from the Outside In: Six Competencies for the Future of Human Resources

“You just have to love Love ’Em or Lose ‘Em. This charming, clever, practical, and user-friendly book is a great desk-side coach for anyone who manages people.” —Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School, author of Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time

“Kaye and Jordan-Evans offer a user-friendly, practical guide that reflects the realities of diversity. Love 'Em or Lose 'Em challenges managers not to simply accept the loss of employees, but rather embrace responsibility for the critical tasks of developing and retaining talent.” —The late Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., author of Redefining Diversity and Beyond Race and Gender

From the Publisher