Don t Worry If a Few Team Members Choose to Opt Out

Don't Worry If a Few Team Members Choose to Opt Out

Even if you do everything in your power to keep others involved, you may lose a few recruits. If someone is determined to end their involvement, let them go with thanks for their past efforts. Spending lots of time trying to cajole them to stay will only make you frustrated and them feel defensive.

If people aren't free to leave something you've involved them in—no strings of guilt attached—then others won't feel free to join you. Instead of involvement, you've created a form of coercion. Trust the process when a team member asks to opt out. Believe in an abundant world. There's another fresh-faced recruit around every corner. Celebrate someone's departure as we talked about earlier. Learn from them what made for the best aspects of their being involved with you in this work. What was most difficult? Take what you gather from these "exit interviews" and apply the lessons to the work ahead. If you focus on the benefits of having people involved, you'll begin getting a good reputation in the organization or around town as someone people will want to get involved with. And that's a great way to keep people involved.