The Expectation for More

The tension between owners and key employees is a slippery slope. Often both want to be on top of the “hill,” yet too often the path up is unspoken.

Spend enough time between owners and key employees and you begin to notice the same tension.

The expectation for more.

Recently, a few conversations reminded me how draining this tension can be within organizations. Often, without either side realizing it.

In one situation, an owner was offended to learn that an employee had been quietly exploring another opportunity instead of coming forward directly. From the owner’s perspective, it felt dishonest; the employee had chosen secrecy over a conversation that might have changed things.

In another, an owner was still surprised by a departure that had happened months earlier. A key employee had chosen a completely different path, leaving the business to pursue something no one inside the firm had even realized they were considering.

In a third conversation, a strong employee had become increasingly frustrated. From their perspective, the value they were bringing to the organization had become obvious, and the next step felt equally clear.

“I should be a partner.”

And in another case, a current partner was growing increasingly discontented, feeling constrained by the majority owner and growing resentful of what felt like the crumbs left after the real decisions had been made.

Different situations.

The same dynamic underneath all of them.

Both sides were expecting more from the relationship.

Owners often expect loyalty, gratitude, and a willingness to keep building alongside them, particularly from the people they have invested in and trusted over time.

Employees, on the other hand, often expect opportunity, recognition, and a larger share of what they believe they are helping to create as the business grows.

Neither expectation is unreasonable.

What is striking is how often both sides are surprised.

Owners are stunned when someone leaves after being “treated well.” Employees are confused when their contributions do not naturally lead to greater opportunity.

There is no malicious intent. Just an assumption that the future was obvious.

Nothing was ever clearly said.

Both sides assumed the future meant the same thing.

Until one day they discovered it didn’t.