How to Attract, Retain, and Develop High-Functioning Employees

A company is only as successful as its leader makes it. And great leaders know that identifying and developing talent is key to building and maintaining a strong team.

No matter how much time and energy you spend, you can’t teach talent. Sure, effort and discipline will always be important factors for success. But natural talent creates a ceiling for many employees that no amount of hard work can overcome. That’s why high-potential workers who can produce at double or triple the rate of their peers will always be a hot commodity in any field.

Here’s how you can spot and foster “HiPo talent” on your team without disrupting the rest of your business.

Attract

Know What to Look For

Every business owner has needs that can only be filled by specifically-skilled individuals. But do you know how to identify top talent in your organization? Be aware of the traits that mark high-performers in your field and observe the habits of the greats of past and present. Recognizing raw potential is a talent in itself. Once you know what to look for, you will be able to scout star employees with ease.

Paint the Bigger Picture

Talented people often don’t see the full scope of their potential impact. That’s why managers and coaches are such an instrumental part in bringing the best out of athletes and other high-performers. Give your potential stars a vision of triumph and adoration that will keep their fire-burning long after they’ve made enough money to cover their expenses. Encourage them to build a legacy in their field, drawing parallels to the greats they adore in popular culture. You can also appeal to their need for personal accomplishment with objective goals that benefit them individually and your business as a whole.

Retain

Challenge Your HiPo Talent

Don’t accept the bare minimum from your HiPo talent. Talented workers can often get by with little to no effort, but their blasé attitude could be toxic for their less-productive peers if left unchecked. Hold all employees to a general standard of excellence, but challenge your best talent to outperform basic expectations by trusting them with advanced tasks and responsibilities.

Reward Them

When your talented team members deliver above and beyond the high standard you’ve set, don’t hesitate to show them how valuable they are to the business. Performance-based incentives, bonuses, and other perks are great long-term strategies for high potential employee development.

Develop

Train for Greatness

Your HiPo talent won’t blossom into superstardom until they embrace the power of practice. Encourage them to aim for mastery by sharing the power of the 10,000-hour rule. And once they’ve found something they are great at, give them the tools for continued education and repetition. Pour gasoline on their fire with detailed feedback and tap into the deep desire that every human has to leave a mark on the world.

Be Patient

You can’t rush greatness, and the secret of how to develop high potential employees really comes down to patience. Now that you’ve mixed the ingredients from the talent-building recipe above, relax and give your future stars time rise to the occasion.

Let Mothership Help Push Company Growth

By following these high potential employee development best practices, you will put your team in a position to thrive for years to come. At Mothership, we have an array of professional services options to facilitate growth for any firm, large or small.

From trademarking and intellectual property services to drafting contracts to business planning and VC strategy - Mothership is your resource for new heights of success.

To book a consultation, call us at (833) 257-8633 or complete our online contact form.