Farewell post: "Attrition is Good"

​ After five rewarding and memorable years, this will be my final post at the Compensation Cafe.

 

Leaving the Cafe hasn't been an easy decision for me, in large part because working with such an experienced and diverse blogging team has been a professional highlight.  I will also miss the Cafe readers, who are passionate about getting rewards right but also able to appreciate the humour inherent in human motivations.

 

However, I recently made a decision to embark on an exciting new career at a company that specialises in purchase-to-pay and creating value in the supply chain.  Since my new role has nothing to do with compensation as a discipline, I won't be able to maintain the level of dedication and expertise the Cafe readers deserve.  

 

Incidentally, I was planning a sabbatical rather than a career change but decided to reassess my options when my husband brought home an electric guitar.  This is one of those things big data can't predict.  

 

In the spirit of change and professional growth, I thought I'd write my final Cafe post on the benefits of attrition.  Much attention is paid to the costs of attrition, whereas timely attrition can create value and drive innovation while avoiding the hidden costs of retaining someone who is ready to leave.  

 

Simply put, attrition - even if regretted - creates opportunity, which fuels healthy competition and creativity.  Attrition also helps fend off stagnation and complacency, the natural enemies of innovation.  And finally, attrition helps keep talent fresh and current with industry trends and best practices.

 

At some point, even a top performer or high potential will reach the limit of what he or she can achieve in their current role at their current company - after all, there is only one CEO.  Once an individual has gone as far as they can at a company, either in terms of job level or contribution, it may be better for all concerned if they move on. 

 

Career development is a bit of a Ponzi scheme, after all - barring wild growth, it only works if people at the top periodically move out of the way. In fact, attrition may even be a key ingredient for retention because it creates opportunities for people who haven't yet reached the limit of their passion or potential.

 

That's why strategic companies regularly weed out dissatisfied or complacent people while actively building talent and succession pipelines to meet the changing needs of the business and prepare the organisation for the future.

 

When attrition and talent mobility are done well, everyone wins.  Opportunities are created in the vaccuum left by departing colleagues.  What has become routine and taken for granted at one company may revolutionise another. Innovation is encouraged by fresh thinking and ideas as new people join the organisation. 

 

Although a lot depends on why a person leaves and how the new team dynamic shapes up, attrition helps keep the organisation fresh.  Maybe that's why a number of innovative companies like Amazon and Netflix actually pay people to leave as soon as they become dissatisfied or the business changes.

 

As compensation professionals, your job is to ensure the right mix of rewards to attract, retain and motivate the people who execute your company's business strategy.  In the not so distant future, however, paying people to leave the company at the right time may be as strategically important to the business as paying them to stay.  

 

On that note, I'd like to thank Ann Bares and the entire Cafe team for welcoming me to the team five years ago and for being such fantastic virtual colleagues.  I'd also like to thank our readers at the Cafe for joining the conversation and letting us be part of your day.  

 

With sincere and heartfelt thanks,

Laura 

Laura Schroeder is Global Vice President of Product Marketing at Basware, the global leader in purchase-to-pay and e-invoicing solutions.  She has more than fifteen years of experience envisioning, designing, developing, implementing and evangelizing global business solutions and her articles and interviews have been published in the US, Europe and Asia.  She lives in Munich, Germany and enjoys cooking, reading, writing, kick boxing and spending time with friends and family. You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter @WorkGal. 

Comments

[Harold]

I will miss your posts. They were insightful, well expressed and engaging. Good luck in your future endeavors.

[Laura Schroeder]

Thank you @Harold for your kind words and wishes.

[Chad Atwell]

Thanks for your many insights over the years, Laura! Your expertise will be missed.

[Trevor Norcross]

Great farewell post. Many people miss the benefits of the right attrition in companies.

Best of luck in your new role.

[Laura Schroeder]

@Chad and @Trevor - Thank you both your comments are much appreciated.

[Laura Schroeder]

@Trevor I agree too little attention is paid to the 'right' attrition.

[E. James (Jim) Brennan]

Always looked forward to reading your wonderfully insightful posts, Laura. Our tiny band of sniveling surviving contributing writers here will miss your friendly companionship and enlightening posts terribly. (No response is necessary, Laura, because I feel your spirit.)

Café founder Ann Bares now faces the immense challenge of finding some hardy soul with the temerity and panache to attempt to substitute in some small way for Laura Schroeder's typically thought-provoking articles.

[Laura Schroeder]

@Jim - Thank you! : ) It's been a pleasure working together.

[Amy Z.]

Best of luck in your new opportunity Laura. I have enjoyed reading your posts over the last year. In my current job, I am the solo comp person and found the cafe as I was searching for something. I have been addicted ever since. I feel like I'm part of an educational community that knows my pain and shares my passion and pride :)
At any rate, it has been a pleasure reading your posts.

[Laura Schroeder]

Thank you Amy for taking the time to read and leave a comment. It is very much appreciated!

[Dan Walter]

I don't like this post. I like all of your other posts where they weren't your last post on the Cafe.

That being said....Your posts will be missed.

All the best in your new role. I am sure you will be great.