This is a true story
Let's call him Rahul.
Quiet. Committed. Always delivered on time. Never made noise. Never missed a deadline.
One day, he walked into my cabin and said, "I think it's time for a change."
It caught me off guard. He wasn’t the type to escalate or complain.
But that was the problem.
He had been asking for change. Just not loudly. He had been dropping signals. I just wasn’t listening.
And by the time I realized it, he had made up his mind.
If you're a manager reading this, here's your wake-up call
When someone on your team says:
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"I want a release from this project."
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"I need a change."
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"I've been doing the same thing for years."
They're not just stating facts.
They're telling you something deeper:
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"I feel invisible."
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"I'm not growing."
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"I'm tired of being stuck."
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"I don't see a future here."
And here's the part no one tells you:
Top talent rarely screams. They whisper. And when unheard, they walk away quietly.
How It Really Plays Out
Step 1: They ask for feedback.
Step 2: They suggest a rotation.
Step 3: They start skipping team calls.
Step 4: They update their LinkedIn.
Step 5: You get the resignation letter.
It's not sudden. It's slow. And it's 100% preventable.
Imagine This Visual
The message was there all along. You just didn’t read it.
What It Costs You When They Leave
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You lose deep domain knowledge.
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Team morale takes a hit.
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Clients notice the churn.
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Replacements take 3-6 months to ramp up.
And most importantly:
You lose someone who wanted to stay - if only someone had listened.
4 Things You Can Do Right Now
1. Talk about careers, not just tasks
Ask: "Where do you want to go next?" Do this before they ask you for it.
2. Recognize beyond results
Appreciate consistency, not just the big bang moments.
3. Support internal moves
Don't hoard talent. Grow it.
4. Follow through
If someone asks for a change, don’t say, "Let’s revisit next quarter." Say, "Let’s create a plan."
Final Thought
People don’t quit jobs.
They quit being unheard.
Great talent doesn’t leave overnight.
It leaves after being unheard for too long.
Follow Anand Vaishampayan for more real stories and actionable insights on career growth, leadership, and workplace transformation.
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