Developing Your People: The Fear of Losing Them vs. The Risk of Keeping Them Stagnant
A message landed in my inbox this morning that made me smile - because it captured a very real leadership dilemma.
?? “Could you do a talk on finding purpose and meaning within your existing company? I definitely do not want a bunch of people quitting their jobs because of a talk! …”
This leader is not alone in their concern.
They genuinely want the best for their people - to help them grow, develop, and reach their full potential. But they also don’t want career development to spark a mass exodus (and I get it - hiring and retaining great people is tough).
At Careers Unpacked, we have a slightly different perspective - our Career Acceleration Workshops are designed to help employees find purpose and grow - without needing to leave the organisation.
So, How Do You Help Employees Find Purpose Within Your Organisation?
1?? Start With the Big Question: What’s Your Sentence?
Dan Pink, in Drive, challenges us to define our purpose in a single sentence.
?? Franklin Roosevelt’s sentence? He lifted the U.S. out of depression and helped win a world war.
A big-picture goal gives people something to aim for. But real achievement doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built step by step.
2?? Focus on Getting 1% Better Every Day
You don’t become a master in three days—but maybe you will in 3,000 days.
?? A simple daily question: Was I 1% better today than yesterday?
Small, consistent steps build momentum—and create a sense of progress, mastery, and fulfilment.
3?? Build Meaning Through Connection & Shared Purpose
People stay where they feel valued, engaged, and challenged.
?? Belonging matters—strong workplace relationships create shared purpose.
?? Fun and laughter count—people thrive where they genuinely enjoy the work and the people.
?? Stretch opportunities keep people engaged—secondments, lateral moves, and project-based learning create new challenges inside the organisation.
Empowering Employees—Without Pushing Them Out the Door
At Careers Unpacked, we've taken these principles and turned them into high-impact Career Acceleration workshops. Participants reflect on big career questions, such as:
? What do I want to be known for?
? What do I want to do more of?
? What new opportunities would I say ‘yes’ to?
But we don’t stop at reflection - we provide practical tools, frameworks, and action plans to help employees take real, tangible steps forward.
And the most powerful moment? When colleagues collaborate and offer support to each other.
Hearing someone say, “I can help you with that!” is where true career acceleration happens.
Final Thought for Senior Leaders
Yes, developing your people might give them the confidence to explore external opportunities.
But failing to develop them guarantees stagnation, disengagement, and eventual attrition.
The best leaders trust that when they invest in their people, those employees are more likely to stay, thrive, and contribute at their highest level.
So, the real question isn’t: “What if I develop them and they leave?”
It’s: “What if I don’t develop them, and they stay?”
How are you balancing career development with retention in your organisation?
If post resonates with you - please get in touch - I love a good chat!
Have a great week
Annette
At Careers Unpacked we are certain that the world will be a better place when everyone has access to the career insights and the skills needed to manage their career, achieve individual goals and realise their full potential. Careers Unpacked works with a huge range of organisations and individuals who want to ensure that, they have (or indeed are) the right person, in the right role, at the right time.
If you are looking to invest in career development workshops for your team, have look at the Organisations page on www.careersunpacked.com and get in touch.