When great people leave, it’s not always because they dislike their job. Sometimes, they leave because another opportunity better fits the future they want. In this episode, Shannon Waller shares a simple question you can ask to learn what matters to your best team members—and help make sure they don’t have to look elsewhere to grow.

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Show Notes:

• Your best team members can become stealable when another opportunity better matches the future they want.
• Don’t assume that long-tenured, high-performing team members are satisfied simply because they’ve stayed with your company.
• Great people can experience “brownout,” gradually becoming worn down even when they enjoy their work, earn well, and have a strong reputation.
• Knowing your team members’ goals for the future helps you spot concerns and opportunities before they become reasons to leave.
• By being curious rather than judgmental when asking about a team member’s future, you can create the psychological safety necessary for them to tell you honestly what they want, what’s challenging them, and what may need to change.
• Avoid entering the conversation with an agenda because people are less likely to give you an honest answer when they feel pressured.
• Ask your key team members regularly, “If you and I are meeting three years from today, what has to have happened personally and professionally for you to feel really happy with your progress?”
• Focus on progress rather than perfection because every team member is the best judge of what would make their future more fulfilling.
• Listen for what team members want in both their personal and professional lives in terms of responsibilities, growth, compensation, travel, family, health, and work pace.
• Regular conversations about your team members’ futures can give you valuable notice of a transition and allow you to plan it together.
• Supporting a talented person’s next step, even if it eventually takes them elsewhere, can create a respectful transition and preserve the relationship.
• Ambitious people want to grow, and understanding how they want to grow helps you create opportunities that keep them engaged.

Resources:

Protect Your A-Players

Unique Ability®

How To Sell Transformation Using This One Question

CliftonStrengths®