If your people aren’t saying it out loud, they might be thinking it. Here’s what to do before disengagement spreads.
How many times have you heard it lately, either out loud or in a colleague’s silence?
“I’m done”.
It’s not always a dramatic declaration. It’s the quiet resignation behind the camera-off meetings, the missed deadlines, the polite but distant “okays.”
People don’t usually say it on the first day they feel it. It builds over time.
One more interruption.
One more time, someone else takes credit.
One more strategic idea is ignored until there’s a crisis.
Eventually, they started to check out.
I recently spoke with a leader who’s feeling this herself. She contacted us to bring our Managing Well Workshops: Core Concepts for Everyday Leadership to her organization to equip her team with tools to give and receive feedback more effectively.
But she’s also planning her exit.
She’s not leaving because the work isn’t meaningful. She’s leaving because her expertise has been consistently overlooked until the fires start. And while she’s committed to setting her team up for success, her departure is a loss the organization can’t afford to ignore.
When one person says, “I’m done,” others are already thinking it.
Quiet disengagement spreads. Morale slips. Collaboration suffers. Retention suffers. Work becomes something people want to escape, not contribute to.
This is where we help.
When we partner with organizations, we help them:
Name what’s really creating friction
Equip managers with shared language to give clear, trust-building feedback
Clarify what people actually need to feel supported, not just productive
Managing Well is not about perfection. It’s about equipping people with the tools to lead clearly, consistently, and with care.
Because “I’m done” is never just one person’s issue. It’s an organizational culture signal.
Will your organization wait until the exit interviews pile up? Or act while there’s still a chance to keep great people?
If you’re hearing the signs or feeling them, let’s talk about how we can support your managers and your mission.
