People rarely leave overnight.
Resignations feel sudden.
But the disengagement started months earlier.
If you know what to look for.
In my executive coaching work with international leadership teams, I help leaders detect these 4 early warning signals before resignation letters arrive:
• Your top performer suddenly goes quiet in meetings
• Sick days increase without clear context
• Camera off. Minimal contribution in calls
• Agreement replaces healthy pushback
None of these seem dramatic on their own.
Together?
They signal psychological withdrawal.
And the cost of ignoring it is high.
Replacing a high performer typically costs 2–3x their annual salary when you factor in recruitment, lost productivity, onboarding time, and team disruption.
Most turnover is not inevitable.
It is unmanaged disengagement.
In my Leadership Retention Trajectories, we build:
→ A leadership radar for early detection
→ Structured intervention conversations
→ Retention strategies tailored to high performers
Preventable exits are a leadership issue — not an HR statistic.
Ready to assess your team’s warning signs?
DM me “RETENTION” for a 15-minute strategy call.
Originally published 19 February 2026 on LinkedIn. Follow Eric Stijnman on LinkedIn for more sales coaching and leadership insights