“There’s a Leak in This Old Building” — and in Your Business Too

My grandma used to sing, “There’s a leak in this old building, and my soul has got to move.”

I didn’t realize how much that song mirrored business until I started working with organizations struggling to keep their operations together.

Because truth be told—many companies have leaks, too.

Not in the roof, but in their systems, processes, and knowledge retention.

And when employees leave—especially without a proper offboarding or knowledge transfer—what leaks out isn’t just data or access. It’s wisdom. It’s continuity. It’s the very soul of how things get done.

The Cost of Letting Knowledge Walk Out the Door

When a team member departs, the organization often rushes to change passwords, cut access, and move on. But if no one captures what that person knew—how they managed clients, handled exceptions, or kept projects on track—the business suffers a slow internal drip.

Over time, that leak looks like:

• Rework and missed opportunities

• Systems no one understands

• Projects that stall because “only one person knew how to do it”

• Data security risks from unrevoked credentials

Eventually, the water damage shows.

Where the Leak Starts

Most leaks begin quietly—in the gaps between departments.

• HR thinks IT handles access.

• IT thinks the manager will handle knowledge transfer.

• The manager assumes HR already collected everything.

Meanwhile, files stay unshared, systems remain unlocked, and valuable information slips away.

It’s not malice; it’s a missing process.

And like an old building, by the time you notice the leak, the damage is already spreading.

How to Patch the Roof

You can’t stop turnover—but you can stop the leakage.

Here’s how:

• Create a knowledge transfer plan for every key position.

• Implement automated offboarding workflows to disable accounts and archive access immediately.

• Require SOPs or video walkthroughs for recurring tasks.

• Conduct quarterly audits of user access across platforms.

• Assign offboarding ownership—make one department accountable for ensuring the process is complete.

Protecting the Foundation

When Grandma sang about that old building, she meant it was time to move on—to something better, stronger, more secure.

And that’s the message here too.

If your business is leaking information, processes, or security because people come and go without proper offboarding, it’s time to reinforce your foundation.

Because just like a building, a company can only stand strong if it keeps the water out and the knowledge in.

Don’t wait for a crisis to realize your systems are leaking. Let’s build the structure, documentation, and controls your business needs to thrive — even when people move on.

Book your Operational Continuity Consultation with CREE Consulting and secure the knowledge that keeps your business standing strong.