Leadership is the Gift that Keeps on Giving

A leader can make or break an employee’s experience at an organization. 

You might have heard us say, “Employees don’t quit companies. They quit people.” That’s because leaders set the tone for the company culture. Think about someone who was a great leader that you had in the past and how they shaped your opinion of your job. If they had left the organization and were replaced by someone who did not care about the employees, and their only focus was advancing themselves or hitting a bottom line profit number, do you think you would have stayed? As much as I would want to be loyal to the company, the reality is that I would start looking elsewhere.

Not only do great leaders help organizations succeed at higher levels, but they also boost employee morale and retention rates. In fact, when I was in college, I had a job that was just “alright.” It didn’t pay very well, it could be exhausting, and I was often the only person that was customer-facing. However, I really loved working with my managers and my boss. They made working so much better, and because of that, I was always willing to pick up extra shifts, help unload the merchandise truck, and volunteer to come in for the early shift when it was time to do inventory. Eventually, I did get offered another job that paid significantly higher, but it was a very difficult decision to leave. I was sad to go because I enjoyed where I worked because of who I worked with. I ended up really liking my next boss as well, but if I hadn’t, I don’t think I would have stayed there very long.

That’s not to say that I encourage job hopping, but it is to highlight the importance of strong leadership. When you invest directly into your leaders, you are investing into every person who interacts with them. If you notice that a lot of your employees are having issues with the same leader, but not with anyone else, then perhaps it would be wise to evaluate the leader before making assumptions about your employees. Give them the benefit of the doubt, but pay attention to trends in employee behavior, attitudes, and retention, and then act accordingly.

Leadership development should never be on the back burner. Investing in your leaders should be at the forefront of all that you do as an organization. People work for people more than they work for companies. When leaders are great, the team performs. After all, leadership is the gift that keeps on giving, all year long.

-Meghan Slaughter