Losing a valued employee can be costly. But if you can spot the signs before a team member makes the decision to go, you may be able to convince them to stay. Here are three key signals that an employee may be thinking of quitting.
Checking Out Mentally
If your normally gregarious employee is suddenly quiet and withdrawn, or someone who’s usually detail-oriented starts making basic mistakes, it’s definitely time to pay attention. This could be a sign of burnout, or even problems at home, both of which can vastly increase the risk of quitting. Or it might be that the person already has one foot out the door. Gently probe into what your employee is thinking and feeling, taking care not to make it feel like an interrogation, and ask what you can do to help.
Taking Time Off
Time off is absolutely essential for self-care and long-term well-being. But if someone who rarely takes a day off is suddenly scheduling frequent absences, it’s possible that they’re job hunting. Don’t refuse the time off requests if they are feasible, but do start paying attention to see if a pattern is starting to develop.
Refusing Long-Term or Upcoming Projects
This is a situation in which it’s important to know your employees and their baseline comfort zones. Some people prefer not to put themselves into the spotlight and will refuse projects that seem too big or important as a matter of course. But if you have a go-getter who loves to volunteer for new things, and that person is suddenly reluctant to make commitments, it’s possible that they’re not planning to stick around for long.
Ultimately, employees are individual human beings with their own thought processes and ways of handling things. Some keep things very close to the chest, and will hand in their resignation with no warning at all. However, the majority of people will show one or more of the above signs before actually making the decision to quit. The best thing to do is always to have an honest, nonthreatening conversation. Find out what they need and if there are things you can do to help. It won’t keep everyone on board, but many employees simply need a little extra support to get through tough times.
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