The two keys to talent retention

Last week, we saw from the AIA’s ABI report that across the design and construction industry, talent retention is more important than ever. Replacing talent lost to better prospects elsewhere is costly from a hiring and training perspective—but its true cost must also incorporate the loss of accumulated product and material knowledge the firm sustains with each departing designer.

So how do you retain those talented designers?

Tech adoption

Firms are only as great as the talent they attract—and talented individuals can only be hired and retained when you’re committed to investing in technologies that allow them to push the boundaries of design and produce astounding work.

Principals must immerse themselves in the ways that advanced technologies are already being implemented in the industry. From augmented/virtual reality and other design-aiding technology, to pre-fab and modular construction, to innovative and environmentally-sustainable materials, you must learn all that is available about advancements in design and building technology, and make it part of your organization’s culture and business discussions.

Inclusion in decision-making

Besides feeling supported and able to push their designs to their limits, you’ll retain talented designers better when they feel a sense of ownership over the firm’s direction. Letting smart young talent into the firm’s overall decision-making process will bring in new concepts and help keep your team at the cutting edge. Moreover, seeking out places where younger designers disagree with the status quo will uncover new ways of solving old problems. As author and professor Arthur Grant notes:

Find somebody who genuinely holds a different opinion and invite them into the conversation. Look for the person who’s in the silent minority and ask them, “What do you think?” Go out of your way to figure out who has a contrarian view on the topic that you’re debating, and ask that person to present the view, and give them a chance to prepare for it.

Get with it, or get out

In short, design firms that don’t keep themselves at the front lines of tech adoption and don’t foster an inclusive decision-making environment will have more difficulty attracting and retaining talented young design professionals—and in turn, have more trouble winning challenging and interesting commissions, and cementing their future success.