Talent Isn't Fixed. If You're Not Growing It, You're Losing It.

But if you're not actively growing it, you're probably losing it.

I listen to a lot of podcasts, usually while walking, cooking or doing a late-night scroll through LinkedIn.

One that just grabbed my attention is the chat between Jake Humphrey of High Performance and Michael Lewis. (Yes, the Moneyball guy.)

Michael talked about how elite sports teams evolved, moving beyond just finding talent to actively developing it.

Not waiting for stars to emerge, but building the systems and coaching that help them to thrive.

And it got me thinking.

One of the most common reasons candidates tell me they're ready to move on?

• It's not salary.

• It's not the title.

• It's the lack of growth. No real development. No one to learn from.

In a hybrid world, that gap's only grown.

Junior team members used to learn by osmosis, hearing how a pitch was framed, how a problem was solved, how a client was managed.

Now, with fewer shared moments and limited access to mentors, those learning opportunities quietly disappear.

And that's a risk.

Meanwhile, the teams that believe "people can't change" tend to fall behind.

And the ones who double down on development?

They win - and keep - great talent.

I see the same pattern in the market all the time.

Hiring someone great is one thing.

Helping them become even better is what sets high-performing teams apart.

In a market shifting fast, especially with AI transforming roles, investing in development isn't a nice-to-have.

It's how you stay competitive.

If you're not growing your people, you're giving someone else the chance to.