What happens if you invest in developing your people- and they leave?

This article I am posting is a re-post that was written by Jim Bouchard.  This article is awesome that captures and explains well why it is so important to invest in your leaders without fearing that they may leave your organization.

It starts with the quote:

“CFO asks CEO,  “What happens if we invest in developing our people and they leave us?”

CEO: “What happens if we don’t and they stay?”

Really think about it!

The article proceeds to say:

First of all, good people will stay longer, work harder and be much more engaged in your vision when you give them the opportunity to grow.

Even if they do leave, which is always a possibility, for the rest of the time they’re with you you’re going to have better, more productive and engaged employees.

If and when they leave, they’re more likely to leave as peers, potential strategic partners and collaborators- rather than enemies.

In an age when 70% of the workforce is disengaged, you can’t afford not to invest in the personal and professional development of everyone in your organization.

Opportunity for growth and development are still two of the most powerful motivators identified by current research.

John P. Kotter reported that organizations that invest in a culture of personal and professional development, among other factors, can outperform the competition by 500% or more. That’s a fairly comfortable ROI, no?

One of the most powerful ideas behind this quotation is the implication that some people will stay whether you invest in their development or not.

A critical mass will tend to choose comfort and security over disruption, even when they’re not fulfilled, engaged or satisfied. Many will stay even if they’re not growing, developing and accessing their full potential as employees- and as people.

Bad for them…bad for you.

I was going to start this article by doing a comparison of the upside and downside risk of investing in training and development.

I couldn’t come up with anything for the downside list!

Your business is nothing more than the collective energy and efforts of the people working with and for you. 

If you want to make your business better, invest in your people. They’ll get the job done.

 

Great article: Jim Bouchard

Great quote: Peterbaeklund.com