When Loyalty Is Repaid with Ultimatums
I read a LinkedIn post this week from a woman who was told by her employer (as were all the employees):
“Convince us you’re 100% on board, or leave.”
After years of loyalty, leadership, and overwork, she disagreed with the firm’s direction.
Instead of listening, they pushed her out.
One day she was “family.”
The next, she was treated like a transaction.
How Fear-Based Exits Erode Culture Fast
That kind of treatment doesn’t just hurt the person walking out the door.
It damages everyone left behind.
People see it.
Trust evaporates.
Engagement drops.
And then…
Your best talent starts planning their exit in silence.
Short-Term Thinking That Costs You Long-Term Talent
Leaders underestimate how costly these moments are.
And it’s the same pattern I see in other areas, too:
-
Rushing through interviews instead of pausing for clarity
-
Keeping toxic high performers because they hit numbers
(or worse, keeping people because you’re stuck in decision-making on keep them or not) -
Cutting corners on staffing because fees “are high”
The short-term “savings” cost you far more time and money in terms of trust, speed, and retention.
Build a Culture Where People Want to Stay – and Even Leave Well
When you treat people with integrity – in how you hire, how you communicate, and how you support them even on the way out – you build the culture that makes everything else work.
That’s the return worth betting on.
Agree?
Ready to Retain Great People and Grow Without Burnout?
Whether you’re feeling this dynamic, or want to avoid it, so you can see your business grow, your work hours and stress shrink, and your employees and contractors be more motivated, productive, and profitable…
Let’s set up a complementary business strategy session to help you put the right pieces in place and watch you and your business thrive:
https://DistinctiveCoaching.com/virtual-meeting
To your growth and success,
Jason
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