Turnover Is Not A Problem

“Ha!” you say. “For someone to make a statement like that, they obviously haven’t worked in the realnworld and certainly have never had to run a company.” Well, let me assure you. In my past I’ve not onlynrun companies, but spent many years in one of the most notorious industries for turnover – thenrestaurant industry.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand and appreciate the challenges that turnover creates. Turnover causesna drop in productivity, lower profits, inconsistent quality, and certainly creates work overload. Innaddition, turnover results in a lack of motivation, a lack of enthusiasm, apathy, and a lack of teamwork.
But here’s the question…

Are the challenges I just raised problems or symptoms? In the context of our discussion of turnover,nmost people would agree that they’re all symptoms of our turnover challenge. Turnover caused each ofnthese shortfalls, which leads us to the core question:
Is turnover a problem or a symptom?

Turnover is a symptom.
But what is turnover a symptom of? You may argue that turnover is a symptom of a weak workforce –nunmotivated people, apathetic, too small of a labor pool, etc. I believe, however, that turnover isncaused by other factors. Turnover is related to leadership. Turnover is a symptom of leadershipnproblems. Some of these leadership-related problems are: lack of purpose, lack of integrity, absence ofna plan for developing people, poor communications, and treating people as objects instead of people.
Let’s discuss whether these factors really do cause turnover. I always suggest that clients use their ownnexperience as their best example. Have you ever worked for a company just to earn a living? A jobnwhere you really didn’t care about the work or the company? I’d guess that virtually everyone has beennin that situation at one time or another. You may even be in that situation right now. When you were innthat job, were you on the lookout for a better opportunity? Did you leave the company to take a jobnjust to make more money? (… and then repeat the whole scenario once more?) When a company and anjob lack purpose, turnover occurs.

Have you ever worked for someone who lacked integrity? Someone who would say one thing and donanother? Someone who promised to do something but never did? Someone who took the credit andnplaced the blame? Unfortunately, I’d have to guess that each of us has had that kind of boss at one timenor another. When you were in that situation, did you continue to do your work? Of course you did. Wasnyour work accurate and correct? Of course it was. Did you take the initiative on new projects for thenbenefit of the company? Maybe not. Go the extra mile to make a difference? Hmmm… Did you leaventhe company at the first opportunity? Point made. When an individual or company lacks integrity,ntu
over occurs.

Turnover isn’t a problem - it’s a symptom caused by leadership problems. Fortunately, the problemsncan be solved, and you have the power to make that difference. Strive to become the best leader youncan be.