A Tale of Two Employees – And One Flawed System
In the same office, sat two colleagues: Raj and Amit.
Raj was diligent, did what was asked, and one day got an offer from another company.
He handed in his resignation. Panic ensued.
“Wait, Raj! Let’s give you a raise. We value you,” said his manager.
Across the aisle was Amit.
Amit wasn’t just a hard worker—he was smart.
He automated processes, saved time, helped others, and never waited to be told what to do.
But Amit never played the “offer game.”
He stayed loyal, believed in internal growth, and kept delivering value.
When appraisals came, he got the standard 5%.
No negotiations. No counter-offers. Just silence.
Amit watched as Raj was celebrated for threatening to leave.
He quietly asked himself:
“Is loyalty invisible unless it comes with a resignation letter?”
This is a reality in many organizations—where value is only seen when it’s at risk of being lost.
Real leadership isn’t about reacting to resignations. It’s about recognizing and rewarding the people who stay, build, and believe—without ultimatums.
Let’s not lose great people just because they don’t force our hand.