Helping You Keep the Right People, the Right Way.

The Employee Retention Group (ERG) helps organizations solve one of their most pressing challenges: turnover. Founded by business coach Ian Watts, ERG was born from a simple insight:

People stay where they feel seen, radically supported, and inspired.

That’s the heart of our ACTS Method, a human-centered framework designed to create a lasting sense of reciprocity within teams.

We partner with companies across industries to implement retention systems that not only reduce attrition but also help team members thrive at work and beyond. ERG exists to help organizations keep their best people and build healthy, high-performing cultures that endure.

Think of the coach, mentor, or leader who changed your life. How far would you go for them? That’s the kind of commitment we help organizations foster across their workforce.

Helping You Keep the Right People, the Right Way.

The Employee Retention Group (ERG) helps organizations solve one of their most pressing challenges: turnover. Founded by business coach Ian Watts, ERG was born from a simple insight:

People stay where they feel seen, radically supported, and inspired.

That’s the heart of our ACTS Method, a human-centered framework designed to create a lasting sense of reciprocity within teams.

We partner with companies across industries to implement retention systems that not only reduce attrition but also help team members thrive at work and beyond. ERG exists to help organizations keep their best people and build healthy, high-performing cultures that endure.

Think of the coach, mentor, or leader who changed your life. How far would you go for them? That’s the kind of commitment we help organizations foster across their workforce.

Meet Ian Watts

Ian Watts is an accomplished author, speaker, and expert on employee retention, helping executives reduce turnover by over 50% in 12 months or less through his proven ACTS Method of Engagement.

With two decades of experience as a business and personal transformation coach, Ian has built HR systems that scaled staffing from 6 to 60 locations nationwide, successfully recruiting over 400 loyal team members with minimal turnover.

As the founder of SB Dream Coach and The Employee Retention Group, Ian has transformed leaders in over 30 industries across 40+ states and globally in countries like China, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. He has shared stages with renowned speakers such as ET, the Hip Hop Preacher, and Coach Stormy Wellington, and has been featured on FOX News (Detroit), PBS (Detroit) & Equipped with Chris Brooks.

A Bachelor of Business Administration graduate, Ian is also a servant-leader, having served in ministry for over a decade, including leading EMERG (Evangel Ministries Economic Restoration Group).

His personal mission is to “Build Businesses that Bless the World.”

Ian Watts Has Been Featured In:

We're Difference Makers:

Expertise supporting organizations from early-stage startups to multi-billion-dollar corporations.
Successfully expanded HR operations from 6 to 60 locations nationwide.
Developed the ACTS Method, a structured, science-backed retention system.
Helped organizations cut hiring costs and improve engagement.