I review a lot of job descriptions, and one of the most common “desires” that I see is some variation of:
“We’re looking for someone who wants to be part of the team long-term and grow alongside the business.”
Because let’s be real, hiring takes time, energy, and intentionality.
No one wants to be in a constant cycle of onboarding, re-training, or re-explaining the same processes every few months. You want someone who stays, who will learn the nuances of the business, and, ideally, who will grow to become a true partner in your work.
But most business owners aren’t sure how to actually increase team retention.
The simple answer?
→ Be the kind of business they love working for.
That doesn’t mean you have to be their BFF or plan virtual happy hours. But it does mean creating a work environment that isn’t filled with chaos, last-minute requests, and artificial urgency.
Of course some things will be last-minute. Launch hiccups, tech breaking, last-minute client changes… it happens. That’s business.
But as a leader, it’s your job to know the difference between an actual emergency… and something that just feels time sensitive or urgent to you.
“We’re mid-launch and the payment link stopped working.” → Business emergency.
“I had a new idea and want to launch it next week because cash is low.” → Not an emergency.
When everything is treated as last-minute or urgent, nothing feels manageable. Not for your team– and, to be honest, not for you either.
It’s not just about reducing stress (although obviously that matters). It’s about building a business where people can do their best work, which starts with giving your team the clarity and space they need to actually show up well.
That means:
- Being realistic about turnaround times
- Avoiding after-hours texts with “quick things” that interrupt their family time
- Planning ahead when you can, so the inevitable last-minute fires don’t feel like the norm
This isn’t about having things perfectly planned in advance. There will always be things that pop up.
The issue is when everything is reactive by default. Because when your team is stuck in constant “putting out fires” mode, it’s exhausting. And when the work always feels chaotic, they’re a lot less likely to stick around long-term.
In fact, most VAs and OBMs I know say that “everything being last minute” is their #1 red flag in a client.
On the flip side, when your team isn’t stuck in constant reactive mode, the work feels lighter and more manageable. And when the inevitable last-minute things do come up, they actually have the capacity (and willingness) to jump in.
So, if you’re wanting to build a team that loves working for you– start by making the day-to-day feel sustainable rather than rushed or reactive.
That’s when the long-term support you’ve been craving becomes possible. The kind where you’re the dream client that your team is happy to go above and beyond for.
