Welcome back to Cardcast! Today, we’re going to be talking about Why do A-Players Leave?
When an A-player leaves, it’s rarely sudden. You feel the loss not just in performance, but in the quiet energy shift that follows, the meetings that drag, the spark that’s missing.
These departures hurt because they’re almost always preventable. Most of the time, people don’t leave for better pay or titles; they leave because something in the environment made it impossible for them to keep giving their best.
A-players thrive on vision and truth.
They want to feel part of something meaningful and forward-moving. When leaders change direction too often, overpromise, or fail to back words with action, trust breaks down.
The same thing happens when excellence isn’t protected. A-players draw energy from others who bring the same drive, but nothing demotivates faster than watching “sacred cows” coast by on tenure or politics. When accountability fades, so does ambition.
Finally, there’s disempowerment: the quiet undermining of autonomy. Promises of authority and resources give way to micromanagement or disappearing support.
High performers don’t stay where they can’t make an impact. Retaining them isn’t complicated: be clear, be fair, and mean what you say. Give them vision, trust, and a team that matches their pace, and they’ll not only stay—they’ll elevate everyone around them.
Key-Card points:
Losing A-players hurts because it’s almost always preventable
A-players leave when expectations and reality stop aligning
Lack of vision erodes excitement and trust
A-players leaving is often a reflection of leadership’s inaction or avoidance
Links & Resources
Connect with Milan
Connect with Ged
CardCast is produced by Lovemore Media.
