The most dangerous sound in your business isn’t always angry complaints or heated arguments.
It can be silence.
When Your Best People Go Silent
Silence is often the precursor to Succession Planning Pitfall #5: Failure to have a competent new generation of leadership.
Consider Henry’s story. He leads a century-old North Carolina business generating over $100 million in revenue and employing 179 people.
As President, CEO, Manager, HR director, and sole check signer, Henry isn’t just running the company.
Henry is the company.
Everything revolves around him, from major strategic decisions to daily operations.
For four generations, his business has been a cornerstone of the community. The ripple effect of its success extends far beyond its walls, blessing vendors, employees, and their families. It’s a platform for Henry’s values, generosity, and impact.
But there’s a deafening silence growing in the halls of Henry’s company.
His best people - the ones who once brought innovative ideas to meetings, who used to stay late brainstorming solutions, who were passionate about the company’s future - have grown quiet.
They’ve learned that speaking up doesn’t matter because Henry holds all the decision-making power.
This silence is the canary in the coal mine, warning of a deeper problem.
Why? Because they’ve learned a painful lesson: their voice doesn’t matter. Henry’s got all the power, makes all the decisions, and honestly, it’s killing the company’s future.
Let me share what a wildly successful entrepreneur told me recently (and this really stuck with me):
“Good people want to be decision-makers. If you want to attract good people, empower them to make decisions. Those achievers will attract more achievers, building a pool of achievers from which to pick your successor.”
Isn’t that brilliant? And so simple!
Pitfall #5 & The Danger of Silence
Here’s what is scary: when your best people go quiet, they may already be halfway out the door. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck:
First, innovation dies
Then, future leaders check out
Next, potential successors start planning their exit
Finally, your legacy starts crumbling
You know that shocking statistic from Harvard Business Review? 70% of businesses don’t make it to the second generation. And I’ll bet you anything that in most of those cases, the warning signs were there - in the silence.
The Choice Is Yours
You can either create an environment where good people want to stay and grow, or you can maintain tight control and watch your best people grow quiet before they leave entirely.
Don’t let your legacy die in silence. Start listening today.
Harry T. Jones
P.S. Ready to break the silence and avoid Succession Planning Pitfall #5: Failure to have a competent new generation of leadership? Email me at harryt@cultivatingimpact.biz to start the conversation.