Intentional Development
There’s a growing mountain of research proving one thing: leaders must intentionally develop their employees at every level. Yet, this critical need often sits as a secondary or even tertiary priority—if it’s considered at all—when it comes to budgets and operational mindsets.
Sure, the Great Resignation may have slowed down, but guess what? The workforce still isn’t engaged. They aren’t committed. There’s a gaping disconnect between the so-called "leaders" and the people who actually make the business run.
Why is this?
Gallup recently dug into the problem, revealing a harsh truth: companies aren’t pursuing their employees. They aren’t nurturing or developing them. They aren’t even treating them as anything more than a line item in the budget. Gallup’s research shows that “42% of employee turnover is preventable but often ignored.”[1]
This is Bad Business
This isn’t just about numbers; it's about businesses failing to invest in the human beings that make them money.
Let me spell it out: this is bad business. Terrible, in fact. It's a massive waste—of time, money, and, most importantly, relationships.
If your only concern is money, let’s talk about that. Replacing a manager or leader costs 200% of their annual salary. That’s not just some small cost for onboarding and training. That’s the fallout from disengagement, low morale, and poor retention. And that 200% figure? It doesn't even account for the silent army of unengaged employees just going through the motions.
To Add to the Problem...
We’re also dealing with the ongoing mental health crisis and the effects of technology. Since the early 2010s, we've surrendered our lives to screens. The pandemic only worsened this, forcing isolation and remote work.
Today, the average adult spends a staggering 7 hours in front of a screen—and that’s likely a lowball. American adults are also spending less time connecting with friends and enjoying life than ever before in human history.
Here’s the thing: humans are social creatures. And yet, we’re isolating ourselves. It’s not just a shift in behavior—it’s a shift toward destruction. There are mines ahead, and if we don’t change course, we’re going to step right onto them.
Bold? Sure. Harsh? Absolutely. But it’s the truth.
You are Part of the Solution
Here’s the kicker: you are part of the solution. In fact, I recently talked about being a Force of Awesome. You, me, and every leader have the power to change this narrative. Businesses have incredible influence, but leaders need to stop being reactive and start leading with intention—developing and engaging their people at a deeper, human level while performing their work.
At its core, business exists to solve problems for people. Customers pay for solutions. But younger generations in the workforce aren’t interested in who they work for—they care about what they do and how they do it.
The minefield we’re facing is our own ego and obsession with building our little empires. It takes a leader with guts to lay down their ego and create a thriving environment not just for themselves but for everyone around them.
As the older generations hand over the leadership baton, it's crucial we understand how to support the incoming workforce, while still delivering on our commitments to customers. This too requires a broader perspective and abilities to shift mindsets.
We need to understand the data, build real relationships, shift our mindsets, and clear those mines ahead.
The costs are large and in the billions of dollars in the US alone. We can do better and you are part of that doing better!
Stay tuned—I’ll be offering tools and frameworks to help you do just that.
You are a Force of Awesome!
Let's go!
I am an executive/leadership coach and consultant serving high-achieving, growth-focused business owners, leaders, and their teams producing over $1M in revenue that are working on getting to their next level of performance. You might sense that what got you here might not get you to the next achievement. Want to connect? Contact me here!
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