Why Employee Churn Happens—and How Misalignment of Roles Makes It Worse

Why Employee Churn Happens—and How Misalignment of Roles Makes It Worse

No one likes to deal with employee churn. It's costly, disruptive, and impacts team morale. But one of the key reasons behind high turnover is often overlooked: employees not working within their giftings.

When people aren’t doing work that matches their natural talents and strengths, they’re more likely to feel disengaged, frustrated, and ultimately, leave. This misalignment not only leads to burnout but also affects team performance, productivity, and job satisfaction.

What Does “Working Within Your Giftings” Mean?

It’s simple: Giftings are the talents, skills, and strengths each employee brings to the table. When people are in roles that play to those strengths, they feel engaged, confident, and productive. But when their job doesn’t align with their natural abilities, they feel stuck and overwhelmed.

The Cost of Churn

Churn costs more than just money. Replacing an employee can cost anywhere from 33% to 200% of their annual salary, depending on the role. High turnover also damages team cohesion, disrupts company culture, and makes it harder to attract and retain top talent.

But the real issue is that churn often stems from people being miscast in their roles. When they’re not doing work that aligns with their strengths, they burn out faster, and it impacts the whole team.

The Link Between Misalignment and Churn

Here’s how misalignment leads to churn:

1. Decreased job satisfaction: Employees who aren’t using their strengths feel unfulfilled, leading to disengagement.
2. Burnout: Tasks that don't fit someone's skills can quickly lead to frustration and exhaustion.
3. Stagnation: Employees stuck in roles that don’t suit them may feel like they have no room to grow, which leads to disengagement.
4. Performance drop: When people aren't playing to their strengths, they won’t perform at their best, which impacts the entire team.

How to Fix It

Here are a few ways to align your team with roles that suit their strengths—and reduce churn:

1. Use strength-based assessments: Tools like Gallup’s StrengthsFinder or ARC Leadership Dynamics can help identify where employees will thrive.
2. Regular check-ins: Have one-on-ones to gauge job satisfaction and spot any misalignment early.
3. Offer growth opportunities: Encourage employees to develop skills in areas that excite them and provide room for them to grow.
4. Create a feedback culture: Make sure employees feel comfortable sharing what’s working and what’s not.
5. Allow role flexibility: Let employees explore different roles within the company so they can work in areas that match their strengths.

Bottom Line

Churn happens, but it doesn’t have to. When employees work in roles that play to their natural strengths, they stay longer, perform better, and feel more fulfilled. By aligning roles with giftings, you can boost engagement, reduce turnover, and create a more productive, happier workforce.

Resources: 

ARC Leadership Dynamics https://www.arcld.com/

Gallup’s StrengthsFinder https://www.gallup.com/

Nancy Coy
Patient and Consumer Lending Executive