People Come and People Go
by Miki Saxon
The media loves making it a big deal when people leave companies, especially if
- they have been there a long time;
- they have a high profile/big title; or
- the company is one of the golden ones, e.g., Apple, Google, Facebook, Uber, Salesforce, etc.
Not counting layoffs or termination, why do good people leave good companies?
Actually, it’s not so much where they are leaving from as it is what they are going to.
No matter how great the company; how talented the boss; how good the career path; at some point people just want to see what’s on the other side of the mountain.
That isn’t a reflection on the current company/boss/career, it’s a reflection of the natural desire to challenge/test oneself in a new environment.
That doesn’t always mean starting their own company.
It simply means they found something attractive enough that they decided to pursue it — and it is rarely found in compensation..
One of the few constants I’ve found through decades of dealing with people in the workplace is that those who join a company for compensation (money/stock/perks) will leave for more compensation.
However, this is a concept that seems beyond most media understanding — or perhaps it’s not what the public wants to hear.
So the next time you see one of those stories, think “where is she going” as opposed to “why is she leaving.”
Would you hire someone who was fired?
Join me tomorrow for the reasoning behind the unexpected answer.
Flickr image credit: BK
