Top Talent

7: Re-create Pride, Purpose, and Direction

Having survived the brutal layoffs rolling through the economy, even high performers find it difficult to summon the energy and focus that were once a critical part of their professional identity. Despite the reassurance they have been given, some of your best workers will be looking for other jobs “just in case” theirs are in jeopardy. Others lose focus on what’s most important and spend their time on trivial or unprofitable tasks. Still others are so consumed with fear or anger that their negative energy infects those around them.

It’s no wonder that Hidden Brain Drain Task Force research found that loyalty and engagement plummeted from June 2007 to December 2008: on Wall Street—home to firms that ...