On March 17th, the professional football world was shocked when the Green Bay Packers traded all-pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for their first and second-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. The trade reunited Adams with his long-time friend and college quarterback Derek Carr.
To many pundits and observers it appeared Adams chose to play with Carr rather than with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If this is the case, why and what can leaders from all industries learn about losing great employees to other opportunities?
Doug Farrar of TouchdownWire.USAToday.com wrote this article which gave us insight into Adams’s decision. The following are just three of the reasons good companies lose great employees.
Compensation
The best way to retain quality talent is to compensate them very well. Forward-thinking organizations place golden handcuffs on their best people.
Adams was unsatisfied with his Packers contract. As negotiations continued, the two sides remained far apart. The Packers were going to place the franchise tag on him in hopes of coming to a satisfactory conclusion. In the end, there were reports the Packers relented and would match the Raiders’s offer but by that time it was too late.
Relationships
Next, we all long for a sense of community. Carr and Adams had tremendous success together during their college playing days at Fresno State. From 2012-2013, Adams led FBS wide receivers in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Meanwhile, Carr led all FBS quarterbacks in yards and touchdowns. Shown below are videos from their college days together.
The two had chemistry not only on the field, but off it as well. At the 2014 scouting combine, Adams said of Carr, “It’s pretty much out there in the media already, but he’s a real good guy… He has a really good personality. He’s a guy whose spirit keeps everybody up all the time. You might see the part of him where he looks like a leader all the time. But he’ll come to me and say, ‘I need a pick-me-up right here; I’m not feeling too good about this.’ Whether it’s life or on the field, he’s human just like the rest of us.”
Loyalty
Finally, everyone reading this post has a place where their heart is attached. Perhaps it is their alma mater or a former company. Maybe it’s a chance to work with someone they admire. Many people long to return to where they grew up or be close to family. The reality is sometimes people change companies because they just want to go home. It is where the heart is.
What I liked about Farrar’s article was his acknowledgement that there were no issues between Adams and Rodgers. So many people wish there was a story there. It would make for great gossip, clickbait, or debate show content. However, sometimes there is nothing there. Farrar wrote, “There was never any outward sign of tension between Rodgers and Adams, who became the most prolific quarterback-receiver duo in the Packers’ storied franchise history. Perhaps this just more about Davante Adams wanting to go home again, and the Raiders making that possible.”
Compensation, Relationships, and Loyalty. If you wish to keep your top talent, make sure you cultivate these three things in their lives.
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