Make Managers Matter: The Brutal Truth About Fixing Your Turnover Problem
Turnover is a silent killer for your business. Sure, voluntary job quits might’ve dropped slightly to 44.5 million in 2023, but that’s still a whole lot of people walking out the door.
And guess what? Gallup says it costs you up to twice an employee’s salary to replace them. So, if you’re running a 100-person company with an average salary of $50,000, you’re burning through an eye-watering $2.6 million a year on turnover alone.
Here’s the kicker, though: it’s not just about the cost. It’s about why they’re leaving—and the answer is pointing right back at your managers.
Make Managers Matter
Managers are the number one reason people quit. They have the power to create a culture that’s worth sticking around for, or they can turn work into a daily grind that sends your best people running for the exit.
Effective managers engage employees, drive productivity, and create loyalty. So, if your managers aren’t cutting it, you’re hemorrhaging talent—and fast. Let’s get real about what makes a manager truly effective, why their behavior matters more than any skill, and how to whip them into shape.
The Real Difference: Skills Don’t Make a Manager—Behavior Does
Most managers have skills—whether that’s the technical know-how for the job or soft skills like communication. But you can’t train behavior the way you train skills, and it’s behavior that actually sets the best managers apart. Here’s a wake-up call: managers can be technical wizards, but if they don’t treat people well, all those skills are worthless.
What’s the key behavior that’s missing? Empathy. A great manager actually cares—genuinely—about the people they lead. It’s not about putting on a fake smile and asking about someone’s weekend. It’s about authentic, consistent support.
Employees want a manager who has their back, who values them as people, and who knows how to be straightforward without tearing them down. This combination of accountability and empathy builds the kind of trust that makes people want to stay.
Coaching: No More Lip Service—It’s Time to Change
Want managers to stop the revolving door? Then they need to get comfortable with changing their approach.
The most effective coaching zeroes in on three essential traits that set the best leaders apart: courage, humility, and discipline. These aren’t optional add-ons; they’re non-negotiables. Managers who want to be great need to cultivate all three:
- Courage: It takes guts to ask for feedback, listen to it, and actually act on it. If a manager can’t handle the truth, they’ll never get better.
- Humility: No one’s perfect, and the best leaders know they always have room to grow. Managers who think they’re already “good enough” are the ones holding your business back.
- Discipline: Change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes serious discipline to put in the work, stick with it, and make real progress.
The Bottom Line: Managers Shape Your Culture
The choice is clear. Invest in making managers matter, or brace yourself for the churn. The companies that are doing this right are seeing 30% growth rates and loyal, high-performing teams. The ones that aren’t? They’re stuck in a cycle of turnover and mediocrity. It’s time to make the tough call and start turning your managers into real leaders who drive results, engagement, and loyalty.
Want to get in touch with great leaders for your team? Let’s talk.
