I was facilitating an executive breakfast the other day in NYC when one of the participants had an aha moment. Here’s what happened.
I was explaining to the group that most people don’t leave their jobs. They leave their companies. One of the business owners in the room couldn’t help himself and he blurted out, “Holy crap! People are leaving because of me!” A hush fell over the room followed by sounds of laughter as others noted his bluntness. Several other participants followed suit by admitting that they are also the cause of unwanted employee turnover in their organization.
Moments like these remind me why I’m in this business. Holding up a mirror so others can see areas where they can improve is what makes my work so fulfilling. Why? Because I know these small changes can help them achieve big results.
So the next time you get ready to lower the hammer on your managers because they can’t keep staff, think twice. Are they root cause of the problem or are you?