Identify and Leverage Their Strengths
Although
a superstar’s talents might span several areas, one
or two qualities will almost certainly stand out. Focus on
these abilities and find ways to leverage them. “There
are a few areas where they will create the greatest value
to the business,” Cohen says.
Point Them in the Right Direction
Set goals
and help A-Players focus on how they can help the company
meet its strategic objectives. Watson Wyatt’s research
has found that when employees understand how their work
intertwines with corporate objectives, there’s a
four times higher shareholder return.
Get Out of Their Way
Most superstars need some
freedom to operate. Too many rules and too much micromanagement
stifle their abilities. That’s not to say an organization
should give them carte blanche to do whatever they want
when they want, only that their creativity and ingenuity
should be nurtured.
Reward Them in a Meaningful Way
Study after
study shows that compensation matters but it isn’t
the most important thing. Superstars want to work on new
and stimulating projects, receive recognition and rewards,
and feel as though they’re part of something important—at
a first-rate company.
Help Them Develop Future Superstars
Baseball
teams have minor league teams for a good reason: it helps
them develop talent and contributes to long-term sustainability.
Likewise, training, mentoring and other strategies help
an organization pass knowledge and expertise on from superstars
to potential superstars.
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