One in three people leave a job within six months of starting. I read that stat today and it took me a bit by surprise. What could possibly go wrong in six months that would cause somebody to leave? Then, I married that stat up with another one of my favorite stats. Fifty percent of people quit managers, not companies. Ooh. Then I thought about another stat: One in three executives rated their onboarding experience as poor. Ouch. My suspicion is that many of our organizations work really hard to get new people in the door, but then they leave these new people alone in the wilderness once they have complete the company paperwork and received login credentials. Future leaders will need to intentionally create more connection with new hires if we want to attract and retain the best in a tight labor market. Personal connection. Connection to the organization. Connection to coworkers. Connection to the mission. Connection to the culture. Yeah, it’s another thing to think about, plan, and execute on. But, that’s the leader’s job, yo!
First day of the rest of your life or all downhill from here
"Every day is better than the next." I missed it the first time I heard this line in the movie, "There's Something About Mary." This time, I got it. After laughing I realized something. I have spent years of my life on the wrong side of the equation. "Every day is...