Dear Andy.(credit @ work)

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Dear Andy,

My credit department is working harder than ever but is under continually increasing pressure to meet business targets. My team members are stressed, but we're not in a position to add staff right now. Do you have any tips on how I can be a more supportive manager?

You've already recognized the pressures weighing on your staff, which is a big part of helping your team manage through a tough period. Even if your credit department is facing grueling workloads at the moment, your efforts to be as supportive as possible will go a long way toward maintaining morale and keeping turnover at bay. Here are some specific actions you can take to demonstrate to employees that you're there for them:

Nurture top performers. The quality of your relationship with Key staff members is critical to retaining them, even in a downturn. In a Robert Half International survey, senior executives interviewed said top performers are most likely to quit their jobs because of unhappiness with management.

Even if you can't offer your best people a raise or new position right now, you can remind them how much their contributions are valued. Find out if there are other things you can do to make their current role more satisfying, such as providing greater flexibility in their work hours, allowing them to pursue additional training or assigning more challenging projects. In addition, learn more about top performers' professional aspirations and discuss opportunities they're likely to have when business conditions improve.

Demonstrate Leadership. People seek strong leadership from their managers, especially during periods of uncertainty. Consider how you can be a better advocate for your team. For instance, maybe ...