Another resignation from a top exec (on paper).
Another round of whispers in the C-suite:
“They were rubbish anyway.”
I’ve heard it too many times.

But here’s the problem:
👉 If they were rubbish, why were they tolerated at the top for so long?
👉 And if they weren’t rubbish, and in fact, if they were actually very good, then of course they had options (and moved on).

The Face-Saving Reflex:
This phrase isn’t really about the departing person at all. It’s a face-saving reflex. A way of dodging accountability. Because admitting that good people are leaving often means admitting that leadership itself needs to change.

This kind of reflex is a blind spot; the kind I wrote about in https://loxamconsultingltd.org/blind-spots-leadership-growth/, where leaders miss the patterns right under their nose until it’s too late.

A Wise Man’s Advice:
A wise man once told me:
“When somebody leaves, look at yourself. Ask: what did I do, or not do, that contributed to this? Could it be me, or the culture I helped to create?”
Five Questions Brave Leaders Ask When Talent Leaves:

1. Was the role stretching enough to keep them engaged?
2. Did they feel genuinely valued and recognised?
3. Was the culture enabling, or slowly draining?
4. Did they have a real voice and influence?
5. Is this a one-off — or part of a pattern?

It takes clarity, the kind I explored in https://loxamconsultingltd.org/clarity-is-the-ceos-superpower/— to see through the noise of excuses and face what’s really happening in your culture.

The Brave Alternative:

Smart leaders don’t waste energy dismissing leavers. They use each resignation as a mirror. They get curious, not defensive. They seek external challenge to see what they’re missing. They work on culture, not just perks.
Because every resignation is an opportunity: to learn, to adapt, to grow.
The next time you hear: “They were rubbish anyway”, please stop.
That might not be a verdict on them. It might be a verdict on you.

Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #Retention #Culture #Clarity

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I’m Laurence Loxam – I’ve pushed limits in business, on mountains, and at the finish line.
Now I help elite professionals do the same, pushing past the point most people stop.
I coach CEOs, doctors, lawyers, and founders who’ve hit success, but still feel there’s more.
Together, we unlock clarity, sharpen confidence, and lead with conviction.
🔗 loxamconsultingltd.org
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