Views from the Shore
One of the things I enjoy most about writing Views from the Shore is introducing readers to interesting people I’ve met over the years. Sometimes those introductions happen at community events, sometimes through my work, and occasionally on the radio.
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Richard Healey, Executive Director of Impact Business Coaching, on WOND NewsTalk 92.3 FM. Richard works with small businesses, typically those with 50 employees or fewer, helping owners improve everything from hiring and team building to marketing and strategic planning. During our conversation, we focused on a challenge that nearly every business owner is facing today: retaining good employees.
While many people think employee retention starts after someone is hired, Richard believes it actually begins much earlier.
“The best way to retain employees is to hire the right employees,” he explained.
That starts with clearly defining what success looks like in a position and using effective hiring techniques to identify candidates who are the best fit. Richard recommends behavioral-based interviewing, asking applicants to describe how they’ve handled real situations in previous jobs rather than relying on hypothetical questions. Past behavior, he says, is often the best predictor of future performance.
He also encourages business owners to use assessment tools, such as the DISC personality profile, to better understand candidates’ communication styles and workplace tendencies. Matching the right person with the right role creates a stronger foundation for long-term success.
Of course, hiring the right people is only the beginning.
Richard says one of the biggest mistakes many small businesses make is failing to provide regular feedback. Too often, employees go years receiving the same generic performance review, only to be told much later that their performance isn’t meeting expectations.
Instead, he recommends a structured performance management system with annual reviews and regular check-ins throughout the year. Employees should clearly understand what is expected of them, how they’re performing, and where they have opportunities to grow. Strong performance should also be recognized and rewarded whenever possible.
Compensation certainly matters, and Richard believes businesses should offer competitive pay and benefits whenever they can. But he also pointed out that recognition is one of the most powerful motivators an employer has.
People want to know that their work matters.
A sincere thank you, public recognition for a job well done, celebrating milestones, or simply acknowledging someone’s contributions can have a lasting impact on morale and loyalty. Those moments don’t always cost money, but they often mean just as much as a paycheck.
Richard also reminded me that employee turnover is expensive. Beyond the obvious costs of recruiting and training replacements, businesses lose valuable experience, productivity, and institutional knowledge every time a good employee walks out the door. For small businesses especially, those losses can be significant.
Ultimately, Richard’s message was refreshingly simple: hire carefully, communicate consistently, recognize great work, and invest in your people. Businesses that do those things aren’t just more likely to keep great employees, they’re also more likely to build the kind of workplace where people genuinely want to stay.
For Richard, helping businesses build stronger teams is what Impact Business Coaching is all about. He partners with small business owners to evaluate every aspect of their operation, from hiring and leadership development to marketing, strategic planning, and employee engagement, creating customized plans that help businesses grow and succeed.
To learn more about Richard Healey and Impact Business Coaching, visit www.impact-business-coaching.com .
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center. He is also on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association, an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University, and is a founding member of Somers Point-Community First, a local volunteer organization
Photo credit: Richard Healey LinkedIn
