How to Nurture and Retain Your High-Performing Employees

Frequently executives make the mistake of thinking that some employees are so talented, skilled and motivated that you don’t need to lead them?

We hear it all the time:

“The high performer is different. They are so talented, skilled and motivated that I rarely need to see them.”

With few exceptions, our clients strive to be magnets for the best talent available. But often, we observe a relaxing of the leadership guard when it comes to engaging top talent.

When facing a high-performing employee, staring back is a talented, motivated individual who is able to handle more responsibility than most. They understand the big picture, make their own project plans, possess great relationship skills, and take exactly the right amount of initiative without overstepping. Given all the upside, how does one effectively lead top talent?

Here are a few ways to nurture and retain your high-performing team members:

1. Provide a Power Boost

Top performers are drawn to a boss who is highly engaged, who knows precisely who they are and exactly what they are doing.

High performers seek to be around leaders who let them know that they are important and that their work is important. They are energized when they feel leadership is a mentor they can count on to provide a sounding board for guiding feedback, firm direction, and thoughtful support.

2. Leverage Time

Most self-starters probably need to talk with their leadership about their work more often than they currently do. By providing “high touch – short duration” connection moments, you can engage the productive capacity of your team member with high returns from the time investments.

3. Check the Dashboard

Top performers desire a clear success path defined by the “what” and “how” of getting to the finish line. It’s no time for ambiguity or assumptions. Monitoring their performance well and providing real-time coaching is important. Provide honest, firm even blunt feedback on how they are measuring up to expectations.  The objective viewpoint of the boss is invaluable.

4. Reward Creatively

Top performers are drawn to leaders who foster communities of practice that go past the normal mechanisms for compensation. Be generous and flexible with the discretionary resources that are available. Use influence over work conditions, scheduling, recognition, task assignments, training, work location, and exposure to decision-makers to motivate the High Performer to go above and beyond.

When leading the highest caliber of talent, it is not the time to lose your objectivity or let go of the reins. In fact, the High Performer is looking for the leader who says, “I’m going to be a difference-maker in your work.  I’m going to partner with you and celebrate your success every step of the way.” By stretching yourself to find better ways to respond in-kind to top performers, you will discover yourself stretching them far beyond the acceptable to new levels of unanticipated opportunity.