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S04 E40 - Why Your Staff Want to Leave You

Season #4

SHOWNOTES

In this episode of Speak Onstage, I’m addressing a problem that every manager and business leader dreads: why are your best employees leaving? We often blame high salaries elsewhere or lack of commitment, but the truth runs deeper. From poor management practices to a lack of genuine connection, I’m unpacking the real reasons why your team might be walking out the door—and what you can do to fix it. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to re-engage your team, retain top talent, and create a thriving workplace culture.

Timestamped Topics and Benefits

  1. 0:00 - 2:00 — Introduction: Why Good Employees Leave
    Benefit: Discover the common myths and misconceptions about why employees leave, and learn why financial incentives are rarely the main reason.

  2. 2:01 - 5:00 — The Cost of Employee Turnover
    Benefit: Understand the true impact of losing top talent, from the financial costs to the morale drop, and how it affects overall productivity.

  3. 5:01 - 10:00 — The Three Types of Employees in Your Organization Engaged Employees (20%): Motivated, productive, and positive. Not Engaged Employees (55%): Clock-in, clock-out mentality; neither helping nor harming. Actively Disengaged Employees (25%): Unhappy, unproductive, and toxic.
    Benefit: Learn how to identify these three types and what their presence means for your organisation's culture.

  4. 10:01 - 15:00 — Why Do Engaged Employees Leave?
    Benefit: Find out why it’s often your best people who leave first and how focusing too much on disengaged employees can drive top performers away.

  5. 15:01 - 20:00 — Recognition and Its Role in Retention
    Benefit: Explore the importance of appreciation and recognition in keeping your best people. Understand why regular praise is more powerful than financial rewards.

  6. 20:01 - 25:00 — Creating a Culture of Growth and Development
    Benefit: Discover why career stagnation is a top reason for turnover and how creating clear paths for progression can help retain talent.

  7. 25:01 - 30:00 — The Role of Leadership in Employee Engagement
    Benefit: Learn why the old model of transactional leadership fails and how focusing on relationships over results can transform your workplace.

  8. 30:01 - 35:00 — Practical Steps to Re-Engage Disengaged Employees
    Benefit: Get actionable strategies for turning around disengaged team members without losing focus on your engaged staff.

  9. 35:01 - 40:00 — Conflict Resolution and Open Communication
    Benefit: Understand how to address conflicts proactively and create a transparent communication culture that builds trust and loyalty.

  10. 40:01 - 43:00 — Summary and Key Takeaways
    Benefit: Recap of the main points, including the top reasons employees leave, how to re-engage your team, and strategies for building a stronger, more resilient organisation.


Summary

This episode is all about understanding why employees really leave and how to address the root causes before it’s too late. I break down the different types of employees you have in your organisation—engaged, disengaged, and actively disengaged—and why focusing on the wrong group can push your best people out the door. From the power of recognition to creating a culture of growth, I share practical tips and real-world examples to help you build a team that’s loyal, motivated, and productive. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by high turnover or low morale, this episode will give you the insights you need to turn things around.


Call to Action

Are you struggling with high turnover or low employee engagement? It might be time to rethink your leadership style and communication strategies. Join my Employee Retention Masterclass to learn how to create a workplace culture that retains top talent and drives business success. Visit SpeakOnStage.com for more details and personalised coaching opportunities.


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Stay tuned for more episodes where we dive deeper into storytelling, leadership, and personal growth. Join me on the journey to creating a legacy that truly matters!