In addition to just planning ahead, proper mentoring also requires an investment from the company itself. But that investment needs to be made if the company really wants to pass on those gems that the senior employees possess. Whether distributors are willing to make that commitment or not is a purely individual choice, but the next time around Smeaton says he'll be following that advice. Sometimes, all of the planning in the world can't prepare you for the day when your best employee heads out of the office to a life of golf and RVs. We spoke with various experts and industry professionals for this article, and asked them to give us their best tips for preparing for the big day.
Many organizations shortchange their internal resources.
An organization shouldn't assume that they might lose their talent. Instead, ask what your company can do to entice a potential retiree to stay on. From there, there is also the option of using the retiree's services in a consulting capacity. Similarly, one expert advises discussing options with the employee. Involve the retiring employee as well as other staff members and non-employees like customers and vendors in the process of determining the criteria for the incoming employee.