Transcript of Your Best Next Move: A Star Performer’s Departure Provides Hidden Opportunity

Hi everyone, Bobbie LaPorte here again with my weekly leadership tip for your Best Next Move, where I help you see continuing curveballs as an opportunity. This year, I will help you actively use your personal agency to accelerate what you want to accomplish in 2022.

One of the toughest challenges for any leader is when a star performer leaves. I’ve covered this before in these weekly tips, but given the current market environment, I believe it’s worthwhile reviewing again.

A star performer’s departure can cause other team members to question their own future and start to look elsewhere.

Even if you feel you have been working hard to keep your team engaged and challenged, it is likely in this market that a talented employee will leave for a great opportunity in another company.

While of course you will feel disappointed, the worst thing you can do is to react negatively, to be resentful of their departure because of the position it puts you in and the critical gap it may leave in your team.

My guidance is to view this as an opportunity to listen carefully and learn about their decision – probing for any concerns that could possibly be leading others on the team to start looking.

And because the loss of a valued team member can disrupt the team, talk one-on-on with the rest of your team members. Just the act of showing concern and talking can reassure them that you care about how the team is functioning and about their future.

So, in addition, here is my tip:

People are generally happier at work when they see that their work is connected to a larger purpose than themselves.

So, it is important to reassure them that their goals are still achievable and that their individual value contribution is key to the achievement of the collective team’s goals.

This reinforces the sense that the team’s work has broad, ongoing importance and emphasizes the role of the existing team, rather than creating a reminder of who is missing.

That’s my tip for this week. I’ll see you next Monday.

Related posts you might like:

How Can I Keep My Star Performers From Leaving?

What Happens When Your Star Performer Resigns?

Winning Strategies Against the Resignation Curveballs

Help Star Performers Find Meaning in Their Work – Before They Resign