A few months back we shared Joseph Cueto’s top four reasons why employees leave their jobs:

  1. Reward System
  2. Management
  3. Hiring/Promotions
  4. Too Much Work

This month Dr. Travis Bradberry (co-author of The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book) shares his thoughts as to the top 9 things bosses do that lead to an employee’s exit.

Excerpts include:

  1. They overwork people. Per Stanford research, productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours, and productivity drops off so much after 55 hours that you don’t get anything out of working more.
  2. They don’t recognize contributions and reward good work. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good (for some, it’s a raise; for others, it’s public recognition) and then to reward them for a job well done.
  3. They don’t care about their employees. More than half of people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationship with their boss. Smart companies make certain their managers know how to balance being professional with being human.
  4. They don’t honor their commitments. When you disregard your commitment, you come across as slimy, uncaring, and disrespectful. If the boss doesn’t honor his or her commitments, why should everyone else?
  5. They hire and promote the wrong people. When managers don’t do the hard work of hiring good people, it’s a major de-motivator for those stuck working alongside them. Promoting the wrong people is even worse.
  6. They don’t let people pursue their passions. Studies show that people who are able to pursue their passions at work experience flow, a euphoric state of mind that is five times more productive than the norm.
  7. They fail to develop people’s skills. When you have a talented employee, it’s up to you to keep finding areas in which they can improve to expand their skill set. The most talented employees want feedback.
  8. They fail to engage their creativity. The most talented employees seek to improve everything they touch. Don’t limit them (or you!).
  9. They fail to challenge people intellectually. Great bosses challenge their employees to accomplish things that seem inconceivable at first. They set lofty goals and then do everything in their power to help them succeed.

Dr. Bradberry’s findings include what Mr. Cueto stated, and added: relationships, commitment, passion, skill-sets, creativity, and intellectual challenges.

Which of these are most important to you? Are there others you would add as a requirement for the kind of leader you would like to work for?

Let us know!

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