I help people change jobs for a living, so here’s a funny confession: the person who has had the greatest impact on my career spent his entire working life with one employer.
That man is my dad. He graduated from college in 1963 and spent 38 years working for a big city government. When he retired, I sat him down and interviewed him for my newsletter, recruiter style, and asked the question every leader I work with wants answered: what does an organization do right to keep a great person for 38 years?
After four decades in executive search, I still think his answers are some of the best retention advice I’ve heard. You can read that original interview in The Network, Volume 137. Here are my favorite lessons, updated for leaders building teams today.
1. The Promotion That Arrived Two Days Early
About five years in, Dad started looking around and interviewed at three or four places. While he was interviewing, his employer promoted him. Two days later, another company called with an offer. His answer: “Gee, if you’d called me two days earlier, I’d have gone.” More promotions and new challenges followed, and before he knew it, he’d been there 38 years.
- Recognize great people when they earn it, not when it’s convenient.
- Around the three to five year mark, ask your best people what’s next for them.
- If you’ve been meaning to promote someone next quarter, ask what this quarter would look like instead.
2. Same Employer, Lots of Different Jobs
Dad didn’t lead with money. Money was part of it, but what kept him was the chance to do different kinds of work, take on more responsibility and work with new people. “There were a lot of people who went to work and sat at one desk for 20 or 30 years,” he told me, “and if I had done that, I probably wouldn’t have been there.”
- Treat internal moves as a feature, not a loss. A great person changing teams is still your great person.
- Give rising leaders a stretch assignment before they go looking for one elsewhere.
- Post your best opportunities inside first.
3. Ask the Stay Question
At one point his employer told him, “We can’t afford to let you go. What would it take for you to stay?” It’s honest, it’s flattering and it gets a real answer.
- Ask your top performers: “What would keep you here for the next five years?” Then listen.
- Don’t wait for an offer letter to show up. Have this talk on a regular Tuesday.
- Write down what you hear and follow up.
4. Let People Have a Say
Dad’s biggest lesson was buy in. He felt like he owned a little piece of his employer’s success. People need to feel they have some impact, rather than “coming in every Monday morning and seeing a whole stack of memos” telling them what to do. As he put it, the boss doesn’t have to take every suggestion, but he’d be foolish not to listen.
- Bring your team into a decision before it’s final.
- When you use someone’s idea, say so. When you don’t, tell them why.
- Make sure everyone can explain how their work moves the company forward.
Bonus: Hire on the Spot When You See It
Right out of college, Dad hadn’t heard back from any of the recruiters who visited his campus. So he drove downtown to see one of the people who had interviewed him and asked if they planned to hire. The man walked him to the front office and put him on the payroll that day. When someone shows you that kind of initiative, don’t make them wait for a third round of interviews.
And for a quick, upbeat look at the headlines, join me on The Top Five News Show, weeknights at 5 PM ET. Over 3.3 million viewers watched it in the last year.
This article first ran on my LinkedIn in October 2026. You can read the original, and follow me for more, here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-kept-my-dad-38-years-joe-pelayo-oyjhc.
I’m Joe Pelayo, an executive recruiter for 40 years and founder of Joseph Michaels International here in Dallas. We recruit for roles with base pay from 75K to 2 million, and one call to me reaches our network of 700 recruiters. Right now we have 1,633 open jobs.
Let’s Talk
Have great people you want to keep, or a key seat that needs someone worth keeping? Let’s talk.
Call me at 1-800-786-1099 or email info@josephmichaels.com.
Joseph Michaels International, 13355 Noel Road Suite 1360, Dallas, TX 75240