Let me get this straight…

One of the dumbest phrases I’ve ever heard is “is there anything we can do to make you stay?” It’s pathetic. begging people to stay is completely unproductive. They don’t want to be there. Let them go.

But, you say, maybe we could do something to make them happy. Nope. It’s too late. you may well have had a chance a while ago, back when they were starting to get disenfranchised. And I suspect you did have that chance. You heard rumors. they seemed less interested. You could have talked to them. But you didn’t. What’s different now? they’ve made the decision to leave. Let them go.

I know, it’s not your fault – they didn’t come talk to you. That’s a good point. Why didn’t they? Well, did you invite them to? Did you say “Tell me how I’m failing you”? and not just to the people who seem unhappy, but to everyone? sounds like it was your fault.

So get out there, talk to your employees – if they have a problem, they’ll talk to you before they quit. So you never have to beg pathetcally again.