So your top performer is leaving now what - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

So your top performer is leaving â€" now what - Viewpoint - careers advice blog There are certain colleagues I lean on for support more than others, and who, at times, I can’t imagine doing my job without. But, as a leader, it’s important to understand that change is an inevitable part of business, and that a seemingly irreplaceable employee could one day decide to take their talents elsewhere. Here’s how to ensure your business and team continue to thrive in such a situation: Expect change and be ready for it Good leaders don’t simply wait for new talent to emerge â€" they nurture it To use a sporting analogy, how often does it happen that the star player is injured and instead of the team being knocked by their absence â€" as many fear will happen â€" a new talent emerges, and the team continues to thrive? We know that good leaders don’t simply wait for new talent to emerge â€" they nurture it. They know that staff sometimes do leave and that change is the one constant you can be sure of in any enterprise, and so they plan for it accordingly. Good leaders must encourage a culture whereby no team is bigger than the business itself. Your business’ core messages should be ubiquitous and understood by all, so when an integral member does depart then no huge change of philosophy or direction is required. Always look to promote from within If you make sure to provide your staff with up to date training, the tools they need to perform, set clear goals and objectives, and encourage people in a positive way, you’ll create an environment in which talent can really flourish. In doing so, you’re creating a pool of readymade talent that will be able to make the step up and replace departing top performers. What matters most is that you ensure everyone feels involved, supported and motivated Thorough succession planning, by which I mean identifying and nourishing the best young talents, is a key part of being able to overcome the loss of a big hitter quickly. By training and providing the adequate work experience to potential future leaders early on you’re guaranteeing that there will always be someone there who’s ready to pick up the mantle. What matters most is that as a leader, you ensure everyone feels involved, supported and motivated.You must create a system that constantly nurtures and promotes talent â€" whatever it takes â€" so instead of a team with one top performer, you’ll have one that’s full of high achievers. Don’t fear staff turnover Some degree of staff turnover is actually healthy for your business. A team who has been together for many years may work very efficiently as they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, however they may also be reluctant to change and oblivious to more effective means of operating. View the loss of a top performer as an opportunity; an opportunity to either promote younger talent and let them shine, or bring in a new recruit with a fresh approach and perspective. New team members are an opportunity to instil within your team a new set of ideas and ambitions New team members are an opportunity to instil within your team a new set of ideas and ambitions. Refreshing the team with new recruits either promoted from other teams within the business or sourced externally helps to ensure that your team does not stagnate. The most successful businesses and teams are those that are constantly evolving. A final thought No business or enterprise can thrive without the skills and talent of its people, so losing a top performing team member is always going to have an effect. Life has to go on, however, and with a universal philosophy and a good system of promoting talent within the existing team, you’ll be better equipped to deal with staff leaving in the future. If you enjoyed this blog then you might also enjoy some of the following: 4 ways to grow yourself global Training at the top Prioritising personality in your hiring process Are you a global citizen? Establishing an effective middle management tier How to lead from afar Successful people create their own luck // Share this blog: