The Summer Mass Exodus

After a brutal year of video calls, isolation, juggling work and family and trying to maintain mental health, people are burnt out and making changes. They are not looking for a new job today but they are planning to leave their current one or take their foot off the gas to use this summer for a massive reset. Executives want to reconnect to what matters most to them and are looking to turn the page on a new life chapter this fall.

I know this because I spend my days networking with the most talented executives in the world. My job is to know the best leaders out there and connect with them and listen to what they want out of their career and life so that I can bring them opportunities where they can thrive. I excel at my work because I deeply care about people and I take the time to hear what matters most to them. These days, two major themes have emerged:

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• Purpose. This is not a new concept but today it is at the absolute forefront of career decision making. For everyone, purpose is different. For some it means working at a company that does more for our communities or world and for others, it means aligning around a personal connection or serving something deeper within.
• Freedom. Freedom is different than it was a year ago, before the pandemic. People can now work remotely and this opens up new ideas around where we want to live and how we want to work. Individuals are reassessing what financial freedom means and the role money has in their life balanced against what matters most.

Both themes are very complex and very personal. Both can involve the consideration of other people and the prioritizations and decision-making around each take time and reflection.

You may be asking what this has to do with you, the CEO or executive leader, but it has everything to do with you. This year your company banged through the door of your employees personal life. There was no separation between work and home and the intertwining of the two created the need for reevaluation. Your team members are looking for the space to reflect and you have the opportunity to give it to them. We learned this year how nimble we can be and how the standard doesn’t matter. We can create what we want and we can craft new experiences that both drive our business forward and deliver for our people.

As summer launches, take the time to have a deep conversation with your best talent before they decide to leave. Ask them what they are thinking about these days and ask them what their definition of purpose is. Spend time aligning against personal and company values and learn about how you can bring more to the plate for your employees and give them the space, time or financial support they need to achieve their vision. This is not hard work but it will be game-changing for you and the retention of your teams.

Don’t be blindsided by the summer mass exodus. Instead, lead with exceptional empathy and retain your top talent.

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