The #1 Reason The Best Employees Quit (It's Not The Pay) with Michelle Johnston

What makes people stay or leave a company? According to Dr. Michelle K. Johnston, bestselling author of The Seismic Shift in Leadership, it starts (and ends) with leadership. In this conversation with Jennifer Dawn, Michelle shares powerful insights on why “jerk bosses” are disappearing, how connection is transforming leadership, and what leaders can do to build workplaces where people thrive. If you’re a business owner or leader who wants to retain top talent, foster innovation, and avoid being “that boss” people leave, this episode is for you. Timestamps: 02:34 – What is the “Seismic Shift in Leadership”? 04:36 – The Great Resignation as the Great Reevaluation 06:48 – Why leadership determines culture and retention 08:08 – Kind Bars’ 450 million acts of kindness initiative 10:32 – How to recognize if you’re a “jerk boss” 12:13 – Signs of a culture of fear vs. culture of connection 14:11 – Real-world example: a CEO’s $25M mistake that led to innovation 17:20 – Why transactional meetings kill creativity 18:06 – Starting meetings with wins to build connection 20:36 – Slack “wins” channel and full-self leadership 21:19 – Practical ways leaders can foster connection 22:49 – Why connection must be intentional and structured 23:50 – Michelle’s new book: The Seismic Shift in You 24:37 – Where to find Michelle and her resources