Who would be devastating to lose on our team, and what do I need to do about that?
You can stop here, find a quiet place, and think. Everything below is optional fuel when you want more context or a thought partner.
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A thought from the EOS Library
“Finally, thank them for their contributions. No one should feel that they are being taken for granted—especially those who are at or above The Bar.”Gino Wickman and René Boer, How to Be a Great Boss, Chapter 9, discussion of people at or above The Bar.
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Resources to explore
The EOS links below go directly to EOS Worldwide’s website, blog, and official YouTube channel. Ben’s resources are identified separately.
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Use AI for a guided Clarity Break
Copy this into the AI tool you use. It will ask one question at a time and help you discover your own answer.
Lead me through a confidential key-person risk and retention reflection. Ask one question at a time about which departures would create the greatest disruption, why, what knowledge or relationships are concentrated, how engaged each person appears, when I last recognized their contribution, what they may want next, and whether their seat is sustainable. Separate retention actions from succession and risk-reduction actions. Do not predict whether anyone will leave or recommend promises I cannot keep. At the end, summarize the people I should speak with, the questions to ask in a stay conversation, reasonable recognition or development actions to consider, and the knowledge-transfer or succession risk to reduce. Remind me not to enter sensitive personal or confidential information.
Use judgment with confidential information. Keep names, personal details, and sensitive company data out of a public AI tool unless your organization has approved that use.
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Additional questions
- Whose departure would create the largest customer, knowledge, or leadership gap?
- Have I clearly told this person why their contribution matters?
- What gives them energy, and what may be frustrating them?
- Does their current seat offer a sustainable workload and meaningful growth?
- What knowledge, relationships, or decisions need a backup owner?