Why Employees Leave in Waves (And How to Stop Them)

My best executive coaching clients ask me why employees leave in waves and how to stop them.

On the one hand, the equation is pretty simple: Employees like to be at a company where they feel important and valued. People want to feel like they are able to use their talents and their time effectively.They reallywant to make an impact; and they like to feel like that effort is noticed and appreciated.

On the other hand… well, maybe it’s not so simple at all! Valuing employees is about more than just salary and benefits. It also means providing an environment that fosters good, productive work. It’s important to facilitate mutual respect and a true team dynamic. Also offering clear trajectories for professional development and career advancement — and oh yeah: You need to do all of this on a pretty tight HR budget.

Why Good Employees Quit

So where can you possibly begin? How do you start the process of showing employees that they matter to you, and of keeping the best ones from jumping ship en masse?

Start with this realization. Employees do not quit the job. They quit the boss. And if you have a lot of turnover, a lot of employees leaving in a wave, you can rest assured that the problem isn’t them — it’s you.