What to Do When You Lose Your Best Employee

Star player leaving the team? Losing a top team member can be scary and challenging, but it can also be an opportunity to strengthen your team and processes.

Keep your cool with tried and true strategies to minimize the impact and maximize opportunity. Here are three essential steps to handle the transition smoothly and maintain your team's momentum:

1. Document Systems & SOPs

When an employee moves on, having well-documented systems and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) can save you a lot of trouble later on when you’re transitioning in their replacement. Be proactive and save yourself the headache! Ideally, you should be keeping systems documented and SOPs updated regularly with all your employees. 

2. Transparent Communication

Change is easier to navigate when everyone’s on the same page. Maintain a culture of transparency and communicate openly about the departure, address any concerns, and highlight the positive aspects of the transition.

3. Don’t Take It Personally

It’s tough not to take it personally when a valued employee leaves, but consider this: it’s often about their own growth, not a reflection on your leadership. Take pride in the accomplishment of helping them grow and evolve into their next role.

And when you’re ready to move onto the hiring process, you can feel confident in your recruitment by making sure you know what characteristics to look for.

Effective leadership takes practice and hard work. Ready to conquer some of your business challenges? Schedule a 1:1 call to discuss how I can help you become a more effective and efficient entrepreneur.