Employees that exceed expectations consistently – high performance employees – usually make the difference between a successful company and lesser rivals. While their unique combination of talent, ambition, and enthusiasm does wonders for the company’s bottom line, high performers are also the frequent source for much of a company’s turmoil and conflict.
Brad Sugars, founder and CEO of ActionCOACH – the number one business coaching firm in the world has studied the relationship between owners of small-to-medium sized businesses and their high performers while researching his book, Instant Profit.
“A high maintenance high performer can severely disrupt a company,” Sugars said. “Many are arrogant and demanding. They want to play by their own set of rules, which causes resentment among other team members. Worse is the effect on managers who become frustrated by their inability to drive team goals and then unsure of their own competence.”
High maintenance superstars are not team players. They are very intense and task oriented, and do not want to contribute to meetings, associated projects, or any team action item that does not directly involve their interests. No matter how great the contribution of their skills and experience, that lack of communication with the team wreaks havoc in the company’s operations. Others often fail to achieve their full potential because of the mayhem superstars create.
To turn top performers into team players, Sugars suggestd that business owners assign their top performers to a team-leading role. While high-strung high performers don’t necessarily seek leadership roles, being goal-oriented, they will see the position as a more efficient way to achieve their goals. Their commitment will also drive other team members to success. Placing them in charge of a team means they will drive team goals.
He cautions that you should build support structure around the high performer. Create simple processes and provide sufficient resources so high performers have support from the team. Providing the goals, and the budget, deadline, and staff to achieve the goals, ensures that high performers can produce the desired outcomes.
By understanding what high performers need, business owners can create an environment in which their superstars, and the entire team, can be successful.
