Hello Reader,

When I was an HR Manager, one of my tasks was conducting the dreaded EXIT interviews. I had such conflicted feelings about this whole exercise. On the one hand, it's a great opportunity to learn, to get some candid feedback. "What went wrong?", "What made you decide to leave?", "What could we do better?". But I also liked to take the time to ask "What went right?", "What are we doing well? How can we do more of it?". Most importantly, I made it a point to let the team members know that they were a valuable part of the organization, and to thank them for their contributions.

But the exit interview can also be a volatile exchange that has the potential to highlight all the negativity, and the disfunction of a particular team/manager. If it is not handled with care and sensitivity it can result in hurt feelings, a tarnished reputation and negative word-of-mouth that can impact the organization’s ability to attract top talent in the future.

I remember on one occasion, the team member I was interviewing seemed particularly dejected. They said something striking:

“My boss seemed completely unmoved by my departure. I thought we had a deeper connection, but when I handed in my resignation, it was all very transactional."

And that seems to be the unfortunate reality of employee departures. Despite the countless hours we spend at work, our relationship with the organization is reduced to a simple exchange - work for pay. Leaders are too quick to turn the page. From the moment we hire an employee, the focus is predominantly on what they can deliver, not fostering long-term connections.

It’s time for us to rethink the way we approach these relationships. An employee is not just a statistic. It takes A LOT of effort to hire someone. It takes MORE to retain them. If we could invest in the "human" part of it, it would be a much longer relationship. What do you think? When was the last time you were in an exit interview? How did you feel? What advice would you give to your interviewer? Let us know your thoughts.

March was a bit of mixed bag

Usually I have a clear idea about what I'm going to write in any given month. There is no grand design behind my social media posts, but I do try to organize my thoughts around a particular topic and then dissect it from various angles. Unfortunately no such clarity this past month. I kept going back to the difference between short-term vs long-term actions, strategy vs tactics, transactional vs transformational relationships. Slowly a theme emerged - our #intentions, our #actions, and the contrast between the two. We all start with the best of intentions. And then our intentions meet reality, leading to the inevitable reconciliation between thought, intent and actions.

In case you missed these reflections you can click below to read them.

• The transactional nature of hiring (click here)
• Relationships rooted in authenticity and mutual respect (click here)
• The praise, promises, and platitudes that have become a standard feature of International Women's Day (click here)
• The transactional nature of our jobs vs the transformational connections with our colleagues (click here)

We have all had those debates about doing something right versus doing something just for the sake of it. What makes us go through the motions on some occasions, and find our inner perfectionist on others? Why do we tick the box at times, and dig in our heels at other times? Is it time? Is it a lack of will, or resources? Or a supportive boss? A clearly articulated mission? Or is it a little bit of everything? And is there room to grow and choose, depending on the context?

This month's worksheet invites you to reflect on these questions. Hope you find the exercise useful.

One last thought...

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Do you find yourself staring at the intent/action gap? Do you get caught up in the everyday busy-ness of a relentless to-do list? Do you get demotivated when despite the best intentions you hit a wall?

I find myself doing that, too often. And when I do, I wish there were a quick fix to get me back on track. What usually helps me is a quiet moment, self-reflection, writing down what's important, breaking it down into smaller chunks, and then going at it again with everything in me.

What works for you?

Thank you for taking the time to read my meandering, sometimes abstract thoughts. I get to the point eventually. And thank you joining in the conversation. Your input and comments are much appreciated.

Sincerely.

Anjani