What Will They Say When They Leave?

"Why did you leave your last job?" the man asked as he flipped over the first page of the candidate’s résumé.

It’s a question many people find themselves struggling to answer during interviews. Plenty of reasons might rush through their minds—better pay, a new location, a promotion. Those answers are simple enough.

But what about when the real reason was leadership?

What about when it was the people? Or the environment?

That’s not just a job problem. That’s a culture problem.

According to a 2022 survey by FlexJobs, 25% of employees who resigned cited a toxic work culture as the reason. More recent studies show that number climbing to a staggering 75%.

Make no mistake:  Culture is a direct reflection of leadership.

When people leave your organization, how do you want them to answer that question in their next interview?

I asked a leader this exact question during a recent coaching session. He paused, clearly uncomfortable. “Well... I've never really thought about it," he admitted. I responded simply:

"Then what is running your culture?" That question stuck with him.

Over the next several sessions, we focused not on his organization's service but on external stakeholders. 

We focused inward on the people within his team and on what he truly wanted to see lived out in everyday actions.

Why?  Because tucked into his mission statement was the phrase: "people-centered." It was time to bring that statement to life.

Today, that same leader is seeing higher engagement and better retention across his organization.

Here’s the lesson: Don't be the leader who lets culture happen by accident. Be intentional. 

Start by asking yourself: How do I want my people to answer the question, “Why are you leaving your current job?”

Call to Action

Every day you lead, you're writing the story of your culture.

Make it a story of growth, belonging, and purpose, one that people are proud to be part of, even long after they've moved on.

Lead in a way that leaves a legacy. It starts with one intentional choice today.