INTHEBLACK February 2022 - Magazine - Page 68
WORK SMART
// E X I T I N T E R V I E W S
THE
UNDERVALUED
TOOL OF EXIT
INTERVIEWS
STORY NICOLA HEATH
E X I T I N T E R V I E W S A R E T O O O F T E N T R E AT E D
L I K E A B OX-T I C K I N G E X E R C I S E R AT H E R
T H A N A T O O L T H AT C A N D E L I V E R I N S I G H T S
A B O U T C U LT U R E A N D E N G A G E M E N T.
E
xit interviews are one of the most underutilised
tools in the organisational toolbox.
“They’re often seen as a tick-the-box exercise,
if they’re done at all,” says Ilona Charles,
organisational expert and author of HR for Impact.
Leadership coach Mark LeBusque agrees. Organisations
often approach the exit interview as “a compliance-based
activity – something we have to do”, he says.
However, the exit interview – a discussion or survey
conducted when an employee leaves an organisation –
can offer valuable insights into culture, the employee
experience and the competitor landscape.
“Often, when people are leaving, it’s when they feel most
comfortable sharing their experiences,” says Charles. “The
first thing you find out is why they’ve left the organisation.
68 ITB February 2022
It can uncover insights into management or leadership
styles and their effectiveness. You can get an
understanding of employee perceptions of the work
they were doing, the culture, the working conditions.”
LeBusque also points to exit interviews as “a costeffective way to collect data about your organisation,
rather than bringing in an external company to do it
for you through an engagement survey”.
SENSITIVE TERRITORY
A conversation that covers sensitive territory, such as
interpersonal conflict or criticism of a colleague, can be
awkward and uncomfortable.
A manager may worry that the discussion will entail
unwelcome criticism of their leadership, as well as other