Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of performance through strong human relations, team building, and Goala giving. This is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul Felloldo.
Hello everyone, and welcome to this seven minute leadership podcast. It's episode three ten. Today's episode covers a tough but important leadership moment when an employee comes to you and says, I think I want to quit. Whether you saw it coming or it catches you completely off guard, this is a moment that calls for leadership, not management, not HR policies, just real leadership. So let's talk about how to navigate it with heart, purpose, and maybe even motivation. Step one
is pause and listen. The first thing you need to do is take a breath and just listen. Don't jump into problem solving mode. Don't defend your company or try to convince them to stay right away. Just say thanks for sharing that with me. Can we talk about it. Create a calm, judgment free space, let them speak, let them vent. You're going to learn more by listening than by talking. And then step two is make sure you
ask the right questions. When the timing feels right, ask questions, not to challenge their decision, but to understand it, here are a few to keep in your leadership toolbox. What's driving this decision? Is it personal, professional, or a combination. What's missing from your work right now? What does the next chapter of life look like for you? These questions show that you care about them as a person, not just as an employee. In step three, add some perspective.
This is where your leadership voice matters. You can say something like I want you to know that your career and your happiness matters to me, whether you stay or move on. I want you to make the best decision for your life, but I also want to help you explore every angle so there are no regrets. This is not the time for manipulation or guilt. This is the time for truth. Remind them of the good they've done, the growth you've seen, and the value that they bring
to the team. That's real motivation being seen, heard and appreciated. And step four talk about life, not just work. And here's a powerful question that might shift everything if money wasn't a factor, What would you do with your life tomorrow? This opens the door to talk about purpose, passion, and potential. Remind them every job is a chapter, not the entire story. If they're quitting because they're burned out, help them look at rest, not resignation. If they're quitting because they're lost,
help them find clarity. If they're quitting because they're ready for more, celebrate that. Don't just be a leader in the office, be a guide in their journey. And step five. Respect their decision, but leave the door open. Sometimes they'll decide to stay, sometimes they'll leave either way, Handle it with grace. A good leader's job isn't to keep people, it's to develop them. Let them know you'll always be a reference, a mentor, or a resource. Why because great
leadership creates lifelong loyalty even when the paycheck ends. When someone tells you they want to quit, don't take it personally, take it seriously. This is a leadership checkpoint. How you show up in this moment could change the way they view work and you forever. You might not be able to stop them from leaving, but you can make sure they leave with their head held high, knowing they mattered, knowing they were led by someone who truly gave a damn.
That's real leadership. That's what builds legacies, not just teams. And if you haven't done, so, please check out my two latest books on Amazon, The Leadership Academy and The Seven Minute Leadership Survival Guide. I think you're gonna love both. This has been the seven Minute Leadership Podcast and I thank you for listening.
For more Paul fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot com