Manager guide

Stay Interview Guide and Script

Use a stay interview guide with a three-question script, manager training notes, theme aggregation, and close-the-loop template.

A stay interview guide should make retention conversations short, safe, and actionable. The best version is a three-question script, a manager note rule, and one quarterly fix.

#Guide content

  1. Manager intro language
  2. Three-question script
  3. What not to ask
  4. Note-taking rules
  5. Theme aggregation template
  6. Leadership review agenda
  7. "You said / we did" close-the-loop message

#Three-question script

  1. What makes you stay?
  2. What would make you consider leaving?
  3. What one change would improve your week?

Download the stay interview guide and aggregation worksheet.

Get your free PDF

Instant download — enter your email and it's yours.

We'll email the PDF plus a short, useful series about Guide's Circle. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently asked questions

What questions should a stay interview ask?
Ask what makes the employee stay, what would make them consider leaving, and what one change would improve their week.
How long should a stay interview be?
Twenty minutes is enough for most manager-led stay interviews.
How should stay interview results be shared?
Share aggregated themes and committed actions, not individual quotes in performance files.