Why do high performers quit?
Asked by: Rylan Durgan | Last update: February 10, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (10 votes)
High performers leave because they lack growth, feel undervalued by poor leadership or toxic culture, aren't compensated fairly for their contributions, and become disengaged by monotonous work or lack of autonomy, often leading to burnout or seeking environments that better match their ambition, standards, and need for meaning. They leave when they can't see a future, feel their excellence is taken for granted, or have to carry low performers, leading to resentment and a search for better alignment elsewhere.
What makes high performers leave?
Top performers don't leave because they stop caring. They leave when their work goes unseen, their growth stalls, or the feedback they need comes too late—or not at all. Retention isn't about perks or promises. It's about what your team experiences day to day.
Why do top performers disengage?
The reason top performers leave is because management refuses to enter this ``danger zone.'' It takes courage to address issues on a team, confront a lack of passion, address the over-inflated ego, or deal with the lack of emotional intelligence that surfaces in individuals on the team.
What are the problems with high performers?
Common issues with high performers
Their desire to succeed can lead to them becoming overworked and experiencing burnout. Easily bored:High performers can feel limited and bored if they don't have the opportunity to grow, causing them to feel unappreciated and disengaged at work.
Why do high performers get laid off?
Top performers get laid off all the time. In most instances, companies will let go teams based on skill sets needed in that moment, not because employees weren't demonstrating the skills they were initially hired for.
Why Do Top Performers Leave? Can You Stop Them?
Why don't people like high performers?
Perceived unfairness. Coworkers may feel the playing field isn't level if you're getting more recognition than they are. Disruption of status quo. Your high standards and achievements can be seen as making everyone else look bad.
What is the #1 reason people get fired?
The #1 reason employees get fired is often cited as poor work performance or incompetence, encompassing failure to meet standards, low productivity, or poor quality work, but issues like misconduct, attendance problems (lateness/absenteeism), insubordination, violating company policies, and attitude problems (not being a team player, toxicity) are also primary drivers, often overlapping with performance.
What is a toxic high performer?
A toxic employee performs just well enough to stay protected—while poisoning everything around them. They make you believe you can't live without them.
What is the 9 80 rule?
The 9/80 rule, or 9/80 schedule, is a compressed workweek where employees work 80 hours over nine days in a two-week pay period, instead of ten days, earning a three-day weekend every other week. Employees typically work eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day, with the extra hours in the first week making up for the day off in the second week, effectively creating a shorter, more flexible schedule that boosts work-life balance and productivity.
What are the six habits of high performers?
The Habits of High Performance
We call these six habits the HP6. They have to do with clarity, energy, necessity, productivity, influence, and courage. They reflect what high performers actually do continually—from goal to goal, from project to project, from team to team, from person to person.
What are signs of quiet firing?
Examples of quiet firing may include:
- Giving an employee fewer and fewer responsibilities over time.
- Excluding an employee from key meetings and projects.
- Giving an employee less desirable duties.
- Having an employee report to an office that is further away.
Why do high performers get targeted?
Workplace Bullying: Professional Competence as a Threat
Overt hostility gives way to passive-aggressive exclusion, gossip, and procedural sabotage. High performers are vulnerable because their achievements may: Challenge the competence of others. Expose inefficiencies in the system.
What is the 9 9 6 rule?
The 9-9-6 rule is a demanding work schedule (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, totaling 72 hours) originating in Chinese tech companies, promoting intense overwork for rapid growth but criticized as exploitative and leading to burnout, sparking debate globally about productivity versus employee well-being, with figures like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy advocating for it while many workers push back, noting it violates labor laws and harms health.
Why do talented people quit?
More than 50% say they have different values than their employer. More than 60% don't feel their career goals are aligned with the plans their employers have for them. More than 70% don't feel appreciated or valued by their employer.
What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?
Yes, jobs paying over $400,000 without a college degree exist, with Walmart Store Managers being a prominent example due to increased bonuses and stock, while other high earners include roles in enterprise tech sales, commercial real estate, high-level trades (like nuclear operators, air traffic controllers), and self-made entrepreneurs/influencers, all relying on high skill, performance, and market demand, not just degrees, according to sources from Tallo and The Wall Street Journal.
What is the biggest red flag at work?
The biggest red flags at work often signal a toxic culture and poor leadership, with high turnover, communication breakdowns, lack of trust, blame culture, and unrealistic expectations being major indicators that employees are undervalued, leading to burnout and instability. These issues create an environment where people feel unappreciated, micromanaged, or unsupported, making it difficult to thrive and often prompting good employees to leave.
What is the healthiest shift to work?
The healthiest shift work schedule prioritizes forward rotation (day → afternoon → night), avoids very early starts (before 6 a.m.), limits consecutive night shifts (ideally 3 or fewer), allows ample rest (24+ hours after nights), and uses shorter, fixed blocks, with stable day shifts (8-4/9-5) being best if possible, while schedules like the 2-2-3 or 4-on-4-off offer predictability, but listen to your body, as age affects tolerance.
What is a 44/36 schedule?
A 9/80 schedule is an 80-hour schedule spread across two weeks. Unlike a more traditional 40-hour schedule, one week has 44 hours of employment, while the other has 36 hours. Even though this is how the weeks split up, the start of the second week actually begins in the afternoon of the Friday of the first week.
What is replacing the 9 to 5 workday?
The traditional 9-to-5 is being replaced by the 'infinite workday' While most of the conversation around the post-pandemic workplace has focused on remote working and RTO (return to office) mandates, new research is pointing to an emerging trend.
Why do high performers get fired?
Their strong performance may lead to tensions, and to mitigate any perceived risks, management might opt to part ways with these valuable employees. Furthermore, differing opinions on company direction can create friction, leading to layoffs that leave talented professionals shocked and disheartened.
What are the 5 qualities of a bad leader?
8 Traits of Bad Leader
- Lack of Communication Skills. ...
- Micromanagement. ...
- Inability to Take Responsibility. ...
- Lack of Empathy in Bad Leadership. ...
- Resistance to Change and New Ideas. ...
- Choosing Favorites Among Workplace is Sign of Bad Leader. ...
- Inconsistent Decision-Making is a Trait of Bad Leader.
How do you tell if you're a high performer?
Reliable: Top performers do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it, and avoid making excuses. Infectious Enthusiasm: Even if they are not in leadership positions, they inspire and motivate those around them. Yes-and Attitude: Instead of shutting down ideas, top performers build on them.
Is it worse to be fired or quit?
The choice depends on what matters more to you—your reputation or your finances. Quitting gives you control over the narrative but may forfeit unemployment benefits or severance. Being fired can hurt your confidence and reputation, but it often makes you eligible for unemployment or other protections.
What is the 3 month rule in a job?
The "3-month rule" in a job refers to the common probationary period where both employer and employee assess fit, acting as a trial to see if the role and person align before full commitment, often involving learning goals (like a 30-60-90 day plan) and performance reviews, allowing either party to end employment more easily, notes Talent Management Institute (TMI), Frontline Source Group, Indeed.com, and Talent Management Institute (TMI). It's a crucial time for onboarding, understanding expectations, and demonstrating capability, setting the foundation for future growth, says Talent Management Institute (TMI), inTulsa Talent, and Talent Management Institute (TMI).
What is the #1 reason people quit their jobs?
1. Toxic Work Environment (32.4%) A toxic work environment harms employees' morale, well-being, and productivity. It may include various damaging dynamics, like disrespect, poor communication, and distrust between management and employees.