by Neville Gilfoy

As you get more involved in running a company, a department, or an institution, you eventually realize just how vital every member of your team is to your success. The old-school notion of top-down management is simply outdated-although there always needs to be strong leadership at the top.

I always worried that if I gave people in my team responsibility for a job and they failed, then it could prove too costly for the business overall. And quite frankly, I couldn't figure out how to establish accountability as the flip side to responsibility.

But as I observe the activities of the organizations on our Best Places to Work list, it becomes apparent the management of these companies excel at focusing on all team members and treating them like their best customers.

Just a short while ago the mantra was about getting and keeping great employees. Getting the right people "on the bus" and kicking the wrong ones off. That still applies, of course, but there is so much more involved.

The concern has always been that attracting great people and then training, inspiring, and motivating them is an expensive and lengthy process. Keeping them was critical because replacing them was even more expensive, in both the short and long term. But today it's not uncommon for people to join an organization and plan on staying for five years, give or take. For a variety of reasons this is simply the way the workforce is trending.

So what's a great manager to do? It's still all about the relationship. Your job is to nurture, grow, and foster the employee relationship in order to maximize productivity and longevity.

But when they leave, it's imperative that there is no bitterness or negative repercussions. Your great employees are now going to work elsewhere. It might be for a customer or a potential new customer. At the very least they'll share their good experiences as your former employee with their new outfit and its network. They can continue to help build your brand. And after that company invests in them for a few years, they could be an ideal candidate for a senior position back in your company.

Relationships with your team are precious and highly valuable. Don't take them for granted—they're worth investing in.