It’s often said that our boss is a key factor in our decisions to jump ship, but what about the bosses themselves?  A recent study from the University of Missouri attempted to uncover some of the key factors behind decisions by executives to move to pastures new.

The study reveals that there are often a number of disruptive events that tend to trigger a decision to move on.  These include things such as a threat to the company’s reputation and changes to the relationship the executive has within their company.  Each shock event was found to significantly raise the likelihood that the executive would soon depart.

The findings deviate from previous research, which focused primarily on CEOs reasons for departure.  By broadening the scope to examine reasons for a wider range of executives, the researchers believe they have a more holistic insight into factors that could explain why top talent jumps ship.

“If we want to know why executives leave, voluntarily or involuntarily, we have to understand how people interpret and respond to disruptive events, not just companies,” the authors explain. “This study provides companies with more information about why executives leave, especially after a ‘shock’ event.”

Interestingly, the various trigger events observed during the study seemed to play out differently depending on the pay grade of the executive.  For those in higher-paid roles, for instance, the departure of a fellow executive was much less likely to trigger their own departure, whereas when there was a reputational shock, this was more likely to see higher paid managers exit the company.

“Higher-paid executives are perceived as highly skilled and have an easier time finding a new job,” the authors conclude. “When a company’s reputation is damaged, a person might seek to preserve their standing in the job market by finding a position at a new company. For those who are paid less, the prospect of finding employment elsewhere can be more difficult and risky.”