I’ve been meaning to share a great survey from a British comms recruiter for a while. They surveyed communications people on their reasons for quitting. According to The Works, in-house comms folks are most likely to quit because:
1. lack of career progression
2. being laid off
3. lack of interesting work or variety
And agency comms people leave because:
1. team/company culture
2. not happy with the pay
3. poor management
The tactical fixes are straightforward both for in-house staff and agencies. Provide communications pros with more interesting and varied work. Keep them. And promote them. Build a positive culture. Pay well. And manage well. Worth noting that, of course, to do all that, you need skills and a clear vision for your organization or agency. It’s not something everyone can combine. And if you can’t do certain things then it’s important to fill those gaps with experts who can.
Beyond skill and luck, so much of one’s success in life comes down to vision. A friend of mine sells real estate but believes good design improves people’s lives. Likewise I am certain that good communication makes the world a better place. Having a vision makes it easier to deliver one’s work on a daily basis.
When I reflect on my life, I’ve most enjoyed working with bold, visionary leaders. When they weren’t the most effective managers, always, they brought in people who could do that well.
Instead of asking why one’s staff keep turning over, I prefer to address the same issue with a sense of plenty: What’s my vision? How am I managing towards it? Are the stakes high enough? How is this work dangerous and exciting?
Those are the questions I like to get my clients to answer. They not only lead to lower turnover but also to thriving cultures and even individual people.
Here’s to helping you realize your vision for the future. Don’t quit on yourself.
Why Comms People Quit
