When loyalists leave!

When your so-called loyalists' walk away, what do you do?

Do you call them traitors & opportunists make them feel miserable by bitching about them or tell yourself that they had run their course with you? The former is a natural and maybe the first emotional reaction we might experience. The latter response will take its time, or perhaps the mirror of your conscience may eventually tell you. However, we usually don't get there. I mean, can we think that he or she has given so much time and contributed to our team or organisation? It takes a brave and honest soul to let loyalists go. It's even more difficult if your loyalists join the competition. How can you say, especially in public, that you wish them the very best? You must be worrying that it might open the flood gates, and more people might follow suit?

Everything is contextual, But for long, people who have spent long tenures with their employers have felt undervalued for sure. In some organizations, their value starts at Induction PPTs and ends with service anniversaries trophies. The million-dollar question is, how do you define loyalty?

1) Someone who stays for long like 10 -15 years or people whom we like to call as 'lifers'?

2) Employees who step up during any crisis by making sacrifices or take the lead to solve the exigencies?

3) People, who defend the leaders in their absence and always try hard to paint a positive picture of the organization?

4) Colleagues, who stand up to the leadership when the value systems are compromised?

Our definitions of loyalty keep changing depending on where we are standing and how it affects us? Many people I know have been loyal to their careers than their employers. The widely held opinion is that the loyalties of employers keep changing too, and so there is no harm in we being loyal to our careers.

How have you dealt with loyalists leaving you?

Maybe we should start by answering the fundamental question.

What does loyalty mean to you?