October 2010 marked the first time in 15 months that the number of resignations in a month surpassed the number of layoffs, a strong indication that the economy is beginning to recover. Though we all want a healthy economy, managers must come to terms with the fact that an improving economy leads to greater turnover. That's why the two most important things a manager can do in 2011 are (1) retain the most talented workers in their department or team and (2) spend an equal amount of time preparing for turnover.

Most employee turnover can actually be prevented. The key to a successful retention effort is to focus on your top performers. It's more than likely that your best workers are being wooed aggressively by recruiters and competitors-or they're savvy enough to stay aware of their value in today's job market.Managers need to validate to these workers that staying at their current job is the best decision for their career