The Squeaky Wheel

In this lesson, we discuss how individual career ambitions and communication can influence decisions during a reorganization. Leaders are rarely considering business needs alone—they are also balancing retention risks and what individual employees have communicated about their goals. This creates an uncomfortable reality: employees who clearly advocate for what they want may receive more consideration than equally strong performers who remain quiet and assume their work will speak for itself.

• Reorg decisions balance business and people: Leaders may shape an organization around both business objectives and the career ambitions, retention risks, and demands of individual employees.
• The “squeaky wheel” can get more attention: When two employees perform similarly, a manager may prioritize the person who has been more vocal about their expectations or more likely to leave.
• Career advocacy matters: Being reliable and agreeable doesn’t guarantee that leaders understand what you want. Employees who clearly communicate their ambitions and ask for opportunities give managers more information to consider when making organizational decisions.

Original podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WaeGfLnRvc&t=24s