Sink or Swim?

Turn Survival into growth: Build a culture where everyone learns to swim.

I was conducting a case study on one of my favorite streaming services. Their philosophy is simple: keep only high-performing employees and let the others go. The implication is clear: if you don’t rise to the top, you sink. In high-performing organizations, new hires often face what is commonly referred to as a “sink or swim” environment. The idea is straightforward: employees are given autonomy, resources, and high expectations, and their success depends on how quickly they can adapt and deliver. While this model has helped some individuals grow rapidly, it raises important questions about responsibility. To whom does the obligation of engagement truly belong, the leaders who set the culture or the employees who buy in? Even highly skilled professionals may fail to reach their potential if the environment is not conducive to success. Research underscores the impact of leadership. Gallup finds that direct managers and team leads account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement. Yet despite the critical importance of development, only 45% of U.S. employees participated in training to build new skills for their jobs in 2024 (Gallup). And when it comes to AI skills, just 39% of global knowledge workers report receiving AI training from their employer (Microsoft + LinkedIn, 2024). Engagement and performance cannot be left to one side of the equation. Leadership defines the environment; employees decide how to navigate it. Sink or swim may foster resilience, but without intentional leadership and employee development, it risks leaving untapped potential behind. The organizations that stand out are those that move beyond survival models to create cultures where high performance is the norm, not the exception. Addressing the Barriers Blocking Employee Development Despite the growing need for upskilling, many CHROs admit to struggling with effective employee development. Removing barriers and thinking beyond traditional approaches is no longer optional. It is a strategic imperative. 

At Level Up Enterprises, we help organizations build cultures where employees are equipped with the skills of the future and leaders are empowered to drive engagement. Our approach blends neuroscience-backed leadership development with future-focused upskilling strategies, instructional design, and facilitation. We do not just prepare your people to survive in a “sink or swim” environment, we create conditions where they can thrive. If your organization is ready to move beyond survival mode and invest in a culture of lasting high performance, DM me today. Let’s talk about how Level Up can help your team rise, not just swim.