About the Podcast
There's something employees are not telling you...
"I'm leaving the company for an opportunity I couldn't pass up"
This is what Sarah said to the team as she stood up during a staff meeting for the final agenda item. Sarah and I had worked on the same team for 2 years and allegedly, Sarah found a place that was a better fit. It wasn't strange that Sarah was leaving but what was strange was that she was the 29th person to leave the 100 person team in the last month.
After the meeting, I went to Sarah's office and asked her, "why are you leaving?"
With a look of confusion, she smiled and said, "I'm leaving for a better opportunity". I replied with a smirk and elevated eyebrows, "why are you REALLY leaving?" she asked me to take a walk with her around the block.
During the walk, Sarah said
"I'm leaving because here I have become a 'yes-man' and none of my ideas are accepted, I have become an extension of my manager's will, so I'm going to take some time to myself and look for a better fitting role."
It turns out that Sarah didn't have a new role. Her "better opportunity" was anywhere she could go to escape her terrible manager. This experience was unique not only to Sarah but to every single person who left the company in a one-month time span.
On this day, my eyes were opened to realize two significant issues:
- The clueless manager will continue to cause good team members to leave because they are oblivious to the fact that they are the PROBLEM.
- For fear of "burning a bridge" no team member felt comfortable sharing the truth behind why they left their job.
This podcast uncovers the harsh truth that people don't quit their jobs; they quit their bosses. If you’re a leader, this is your chance to live every employee’s fantasy: turn the tables and listen in on what your direct reports have to say about you.