What defines top talent? When companies talk about their top talent, what they usually mean are individuals who are just that much more motivated, diligent & efficient than the rest. These individuals are high-performing achievers valued by their company for what they can bring to the table. They seem to be naturally hard workers; and more productive than their fellow employees. For these reasons, and more, companies want to do all they can to retain these workers and the much-needed edge they bring to the organization.
But keeping high-performers engaged can be tricky. The same qualities that motivate them to run at maximum efficiency at all times can also cause them to burn out faster, or lose interest because they run primarily on passion. Sometimes they don’t feel valued, or sometimes it’s just too difficult to keep their interest.
So what are some things that these over-achievers need to stay engaged and remain with an organization over time?
Career Development Opportunities
Not only do high performers need to feel like their career path has a structure to it, but they need to be continually challenged to add to their skillset over time. They need work that is interesting for them and meaningful in some way. There should always be challenges and opportunities for growth (both personal growth, as well as within the company).
Self-Development Opportunities
Although most employees thrive on praise from their superiors, high performers tend to need less acknowledgement, and more mentorship. They enjoy being in positions of responsibility and being held accountable for it. They enjoy roles in which they are expected to grow and develop themselves in order to succeed at it. They take constructive criticism well, and in fact, need constructive feedback in order to continually improve themselves.
They Need to Enjoy Where They Are
High performers can tend to be over-achievers and for this reason, it’s important to provide them with a relaxed & enjoyable atmosphere to work in. They do not need constant monitoring as they are already self-motivated. A happy and relaxed workplace environment – which is an often overlooked factor – will go a long way in helping you retain the employees you are desperate not to lose. In Closing
Your top talent needs to be valued – and fulfilling their needs is a way of showing them that your organization truly values them. It may be tricky finding what keeps them engaged, but it’s well worth it to retain the people who can really help carry your company forward.
