#9 An empty post always tells a story.

Hello from Florida. ☀️

This morning I returned to a spot I photographed almost exactly a year ago.

Same beach. Same sea. Same wooden posts.

But something had changed.

Last year, almost every post had a bird sitting on it. Today, several were empty.

I immediately saw a musing opportunity and wondered - where did they go ?

Perhaps they found somewhere better.
Perhaps something changed around them.
Perhaps their needs changed.
Or perhaps it was simply time to move on.

It got me thinking about retention in the workplace.

When someone leaves, we tend to focus on the vacant post. Who will replace them, how quickly we can recruit, who will pick up the work ?

But what about the person who used to occupy it?

What changed for them?
Did they still feel valued?
Was there a conversation that never happened?

And perhaps most importantly,

What might have made them stay?

After many years of working with people and leaders, I know there is rarely one simple reason why someone leaves.

Sometimes organisations change.
Sometimes life changes.
And sometimes we change.

Twelve months ago, when I stood in this same place, my own life looked very different too.

People don’t stand still, and neither do what they need from work, leadership or life.

Perhaps great retention starts with staying curious before a valued person’s post becomes an empty one.

What do your best people need from you today that they may not have needed a year ago?