Employee Retention in Small Business

Chris Deferio: Keys to the Shop

Chris Deferio is a cafe quality specialist who has dedicated 20 years of his life to working in and studying specialty coffee retail. He is also the creator and host of the industry leading podcast, Keys to the Shop, which gives listeners insights, inspiration, and tools to grow as specialty coffee professionals.

Chris previously appeared on the show to help us get more perspective on managing part-time staff. In this conversation, Chris and I explore some of the practical steps that small business owners and general managers can take in order to support employee retention.

Key Points

Be mindful of the realities of turnover in a small business, but don’t let it stop you from thinking about the future and investing in people.
Yes, hire for attitude — and also have an eye to future potential as the business grows.
Ask people this question in interviews: “Where did you contribute to dysfunction in your prior organization?”
Make an investment in people beyond the paycheck. This could be learning, culture, competitions, or more. There are ways to do this without tremendous expense.
Practice intentional breaks in your rhythm, since nobody else in your business is likely to do this.