The 27 Challenges Managers Face

Chapter SixThe Challenges of Managing Superstars

Let’s cut right to the chase: the very best talent—at every level—is worth so much more than other employees that the only way to be fair, keep them motivated, retain them, and develop them is to differentiate radically and invest wildly in recognizing and rewarding them.

You know very well that one truly great player on your team is worth three, four, or five mediocre people. The difference in value is sometimes hard to quantify, sometimes not so hard. Think about that MVP, that superstar, that employee you can rely on without hesitation. The one who (almost) always gets the job done right and ahead of schedule, takes exactly the right amount of initiative without overstepping, makes good decisions ...