Across FE, colleges are investing heavily in culture, wellbeing and people-led leadership.
But in many organisations, one misaligned manager can quietly undo all of that work.
It only takes one person in a position of influence to shift the psychological safety of a whole department. And when that happens, retention becomes nearly impossible, no matter how strong your broader culture is.
The emotional bank account matters more than you think
Stephen Covey's concept of the "emotional bank account" has shaped how we think about trust in organisations. It's simple but powerful:
Think of trust like a real bank account. Instead of money, you're dealing in goodwill, emotional safety, and credibility.
Deposits are positive actions: keeping promises, listening actively, showing genuine appreciation, being loyal, expressing integrity.
Withdrawals are negative actions: breaking commitments, being disrespectful, ignoring someone's needs, acting with dishonesty.
The balance determines how resilient a working relationship becomes. When the balance is high, people are more forgiving, more open, more willing to engage in difficult conversations. When it's low, even small issues can escalate into conflict.
What this means for managers
For managers in FE, this framework is operational - not theoretical.
A manager with a high emotional bank account can deliver tough feedback and have it land as investment. They can ask for change and have people move with them. They can admit mistakes and maintain credibility.
A manager running a deficit? The same conversation creates defensiveness, resentment, or disengagement.
Covey identified six key ways managers build deposits:
- Understand the individual: know what matters to your team member, what motivates them, what concerns them
- Attend to the little things: consistency in small gestures builds trust faster than grand promises
- Keep commitments: do what you say you'll do, when you say you'll do it
- Clarify expectations: remove ambiguity so people know where they stand
- Show personal integrity: align your words with your actions
- Apologise sincerely when you make a withdrawal: repair matters, and how you repair matters even more
This isn't a one-time exercise. Like any account, it's dynamic and ongoing. You can't make one big deposit and expect the balance to stay full. Trust is maintained through consistent, intentional behaviour.
Where this connects to retention
Here's why this matters for talent: When a manager has built genuine trust with their team, retention becomes almost automatic. People stay because they feel psychologically safe. They're willing to have honest conversations about development, challenges, and career growth. They're more likely to weather difficult periods because the relationship has credit in the bank.
Conversely, even the best job board, the most competitive salary, the most inspiring mission statement - none of it overcomes a manager who consistently makes withdrawals and never makes deposits.
Where recruitment and culture meet
We're excited to announce that FE HR Hub has partnered with onlyFE. This isn’t a random partnership. When we started talking with onlyFE, we recognised something immediately: they understand FE. They understand the pressures colleges are navigating – tight budgets; stretched teams; rapid change; evolving learner needs; and the challenge of attracting and retaining great people in a demanding environment.
What stood out to us was a shared belief that recruitment and retention can’t be separated from culture. You can run an excellent recruitment campaign and attract strong candidates, but if the day-to-day experience of working within an organisation doesn’t reflect what was promised, people quickly disengage - or leave.
The reality is that culture is experienced most directly through leadership. Through line managers. Through everyday conversations. Through whether people feel trusted, supported and psychologically safe.
For FE HR Hub members, the partnership means access to a job board built by people who genuinely understand FE's challenges, including the human ones. It means a 20% discount on unlimited job advertising (£1,600 instead of £1,999). But more importantly, it's a reminder: Culture change happens manager by manager, conversation by conversation, trust rebuilt in small moments.
Join the conversation
If you're navigating these challenges: manager alignment, psychological safety, retention… you're not alone. And you shouldn't be figuring it out in isolation.
That's why FE HR Hub exists. Our monthly Breakfast Club brings together HR leaders, heads of people, and senior practitioners across FE to share real solutions, learn from peers facing the same pressures, and build genuine connections with people who get it.
No overly polished theory. Just practical conversations about what actually works in FE.
If you'd like to be part of that community, register here to receive information about our new membership package and stay connected with FE HR Hub.
Learn more at FE HR Hub
Nicola Perkins
Founder of FE HR Hub
Supporting FE leaders to build stronger cultures, teams and workplaces