Expert highlights manager effect on employee retention Q3 BMF meeting
Biotech manufacturing companies can dramatically improve employee retention by focusing on immediate manager quality, with great supervisors making workers three times more likely to stay, a workforce consultant told industry leaders at the meeting of the NCLifeSci Biotech Manufacturers Forum Sept. 24 at the NC Biotechnology Center.
Lynn Whitesell, partner and principal consultant at Harris Whitesell Consulting, delivered the keynote presentation on career development and retention strategies.
Drawing from three decades of experience in life sciences and biotech industries, Whitesell presented sobering statistics about the sector's workforce challenges. Biotech manufacturing faces a 23.8% turnover rate compared to 12% in general manufacturing across the United States, she said.
"Do you think the leader plays a tremendous role in retention?" Whitesell asked the audience of site directors, HR leaders and industry executives. The interactive presentation included audience participation exercises where attendees identified leadership behaviors that drive employee retention and departure.
Whitesell emphasized that 67% of biotech companies report insufficient leadership pipelines, while 58% of newly promoted leaders receive no training. The cost of failed leadership promotions averages $240,000 annually per person in the biotech industry, she said.
"You're great, you're top talent. We promote you. You fail, you're out," Whitesell said, describing the common scenario of promoting technical experts to management roles without adequate preparation.
The presentation included interactive exercises where participants shared experiences with effective and ineffective managers. Attendees identified key leadership qualities including empathy, transparency, providing growth opportunities, giving specific feedback and advocating for employees.
Whitesell distinguished between coaching and mentoring approaches, explaining that coaching involves asking questions to help employees discover solutions they already know, while mentoring involves directly telling employees what to do. She noted that 67% of employees want more coaching conversations with their managers.
The forum also featured legislative updates from NCLifeSci President Laura Gunter and program updates from Bill Monteith, BMF program manager. Guest organizations included the Durham Museum of Life and Science, Marbles Kids Museum, the North Carolina Food Bank and the Biomanufacturing Education and Skills Training Center planned for Wilson.
The forum's next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3, focusing on safety culture. Three new discussion groups are forming around digital manufacturing practices, sustainability and best practices for small to mid-size companies.
Harris Whitesell Consulting is piloting leadership training programs with several BMF member companies and will participate in the forum's HR training network meeting Oct. 2 to continue developing retention strategies.
The Biotech Manufacturers Forum serves as a collaborative platform for North Carolina's life sciences manufacturing community, addressing workforce development, regulatory issues and operational challenges facing the industry.