In our fast-paced business world, it's easy to get lost in the flood of data from monthly reports. These reports are full of important information like exits, turnover rates and tenure. But without proper interpretation, these numbers remain just that - just numbers. Today I'll show you how you can use exit data to tell compelling stories that drive strategic actions and prepare you for important meetings.
Understanding Exit Data: The Basics
Exit data includes various information about employees who leave the company. Important points are:
Attrition: The number of employees who have left.
Turnover rate: The percentage of the workforce that leaves in a given period.
Tenure: How long employees stay with the company before leaving.
These elements are often included in reports, but on their own they don't tell a real story. The challenge is to turn these numbers into insights that reveal the underlying trends and risks in the business.
With beyobie you can take your data storytelling to the next level. Get your insights at any time at the touch of a button and become your own data expert.
From data to storytelling: A simple approach
Create transparency and identify risks Start by providing a transparent overview of your company's health by analyzing exit data over time. Look for patterns and anomalies that could indicate potential risks. For example, if a certain department has consistently high turnover, this could indicate deeper problems. For example, let's say the sales department has the most exits. This may be expected because sales jobs often have high turnover. But if the IT department, which is normally more stable, shows unusually high turnover, this is a red flag. By looking at turnover trends in the IT department over the past year, you can determine whether this is a recurring problem or a new development.
Check the impact of tenure Dig deeper into the tenure of people who are leaving to assess the impact on your business. High turnover among long-term employees can indicate deeper issues, such as dissatisfaction or a lack of advancement opportunities. On the other hand, turnover among new hires could indicate problems in the hiring process or onboarding experience. For example, if you notice that a lot of long-term employees are leaving, it could indicate that those experienced individuals are feeling undervalued or stuck. This insight allows you to address potential issues with morale and engagement, which are critical to retaining top talent.
Develop strategic action plans Use these insights to create a strategic action plan. This includes:
Collaborate with teams: Work with your recruiting and HR team to understand the causes of turnover. Are there specific pain points or areas that can be improved?
Develop solutions: Propose concrete actions to address the problems. This could include improving career development programs, promoting company culture, or adjusting hiring strategies to better align with business needs.
Board presentation: When presenting to the board, focus on data-driven storytelling. Highlight key trends and their potential impact on the business. Provide clear, actionable recommendations that demonstrate proactive management and commitment to improving employee engagement.
Conclusion: Turning data into decisions
By using exit data effectively, you can go beyond numbers and gain meaningful insights into your business. This approach not only prepares you for more informed meetings, but also enables team leaders to identify and mitigate risks early.
Mastering the art of data-driven storytelling ensures your insights resonate with stakeholders and lead to strategic actions that improve business health and employee satisfaction.