THE REAL REASON EMPLOYEES LEAVE First, let’s talk about retention. We need to stop blaming the “Big Five” tech companies for stealing all the talent. If you can’t find and retain talent, that’s on you. People quit at Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook all the time.
Why is it on you? Because people rarely leave companies, they leave their boss.
Most companies spend time conducting exit interviews, but the employee leaving is rarely honest about why. It’s uncomfortable, and most humans don’t like to hurt other human’s feelings. Departing employees often are afraid of the repercussions of being honest about their reasons for walking. They wonder if it could affect their next opportunity or fear it might burn bridges. Perhaps you’ve heard these reasons before:
“I don’t see an opportunity for career advancement.”
“I don’t care for the direction of the company.”
“I didn’t have enough work-life balance.”
“I found an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
Now, there are certain times these things are true, and there are undoubtedly exiting employees who are 100% honest. For the most part, though, it’s just a cover. Think back – how many times did you leave a company where you loved your manager? To that end, I encourage you to dig a little deeper into your retention metrics. For example, when is the last time you looked at turnover rates by leader instead of by the entire organization’s turnover numbers? It might be time. The moral of the story is to be a better leader. Then take it one step further and make sure the other leaders you hire are being good leaders. I’m confident you can figure out how to do that. If not, there are plenty of books or people to ask.
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People rarely leave companies, they leave their boss.
– STU NUTTING
The Real Reason People Quit | 21
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