The Learn-It-All Podcast 139: Quit Losing Talent: How to Build a Team That Stays | Mike Harbour
Stop Hemorrhaging Top Talent: A Leader's Guide to Modern Employee Retention
Are you tired of watching your best employees walk out the door despite competitive pay and benefits? What if retention actually begins before an employee's first day?
In this enlightening episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, host Damon Lembi explores groundbreaking strategies for attracting and retaining top talent with Mike Harbour, author of Quit Losing Talent. Drawing from his extensive experience as both a headhunter and leadership consultant, Mike shares how traditional onboarding approaches are failing in today's workplace and introduces his STAY framework for creating a culture where employees want to, well, stay. He challenges conventional wisdom about hiring experienced staff and reveals why even top performers can be toxic to your organization's long-term success.
This Episode Covers:
- Why sending a handwritten welcome note to new hires before their start date can dramatically improve retention
- The costly mistake of skipping proper onboarding for experienced new hires, even when they have industry expertise
- How focusing on skills over values in interviews leads to poor hiring decisions and higher turnover
- Why investing in employee development isn't just about job skills - personal growth opportunities like financial planning classes can significantly boost retention
- Why keeping a toxic top performer can actually cost more than losing their production
- The importance of addressing generational "micro-bullying" that drives younger talent away
- A systematic 90-day activation process that replaces traditional onboarding and ensures new hire success
Episode Highlights:
00:01 – Why Retention Starts Before Day One – How leaders must rethink hiring and onboarding to create lasting engagement.
06:25 – Mastering the Welcome Process – Why a simple handwritten note or phone call before the first day can dramatically impact retention.
12:18 – Sharpening Job Ads to Attract Top Talent – How companies must go beyond listing skills and emphasize mission, values, and growth opportunities.
19:45 – The STAY Framework for Employee Activation – A structured 90-day plan to help new hires feel connected, valued, and set up for success.
28:30 – Why Investing in Employee Development Improves Retention – How offering personal and professional growth opportunities keeps employees engaged.
33:50 – Handling Toxic Top Performers – Why keeping a high-producing but toxic employee can destroy company culture.
46:06 – How Leaders Can Build a Culture That People Want to Stay In – Practical steps for creating an environment where employees feel valued and empowered.
About Mike:
Mike Harbour is a leadership development expert and former U.S. Army officer who has helped transform talent retention and leadership practices at organizations across America. As founder and Chief Action Officer of Harbour Resources, he leverages over three decades of experience in healthcare operations, executive search, and leadership development to solve critical retention challenges. A founding partner on the John C. Maxwell Team where he serves on the President's Advisory Council, Harbour has interviewed thousands of leaders and successfully placed hundreds in key positions. His podcast, The Lead Up, has produced over 400 episodes of leadership content, and his book Quit Losing Talent provides a systematic framework for modern hiring and retention.
Resources Referenced:
Quit Losing Talent: Expanded Edition: Twenty Leadership Tactics to Win, Keep, & Inspire Great Employees by Mike Harbour
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
John Maxwell (mentioned as a mentor)
Zig Ziglar (quoted)
Podcast Contact Information
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com