Why Employees Leave Leaders & What You Can Do About It | Dr. Jack Zenger

If half your team suddenly quit, would you know why? Research shows that 50% of employees quit because of their relationship with their leader, and it’s not because of screaming bosses or impossible workloads—it’s because they feel ignored, undervalued, and disconnected. In this episode, Dr. Jack Zenger, CEO and Co-Founder of Zenger Folkman, breaks down what truly drives employee retention and engagement. Backed by data from 200,000 leaders worldwide, Jack reveals the three leadership qualities that make the biggest impact on employees, the cascading effect of great leadership across an organization, and why strategic thinking, inspiration, and results-focused leadership matter now more than ever. We also discuss how you can measure your effectiveness as a leader without relying on complex surveys, as well as the state of leadership in 2025, the impact of AI, and whether leadership training programs are actually working. If you want to keep your best people and build a culture where employees thrive, this episode is a must-listen.

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