I was recently discussing motivating workers to emulate the top performers in a team. It quickly became apparent that performance was being used to describe initiative, innovation, process and skill. These four characteristics are needed in different combinations depending on the tasks assigned to an individual. For example, skill and innovation would be necessary for someone to work on a new high profile project in which an outcome is more desired than the supporting processes. Someone required to ensure the resulting process is repeatable may have to rely more on initiative within known constraints to create it. The person required to provide long term support or lead projects will often have to be highly process driven. In all cases the skills required will vary from the technical to the interpersonal.
The question that should also be asked is whether a high performing person in one area has the ability or desire to be high performing in another. If they do not, should that be necessarily viewed as a negative trait? In some cases it may be so, especially if the company needs to reevaluate its talent pool in the face of a changing business environment, but that shouldn’t prevent considering assignments in new areas that require similar innate talents and motivations. The rejuvenation of a new area in your department could result.
Another important activity should be the quest for methods to motivate good performers during times when their talents are temporarily not needed. This could include more detailed discussion of their aspirations within the company or industry for new ideas, involvement in projects external to the department, involvement in company events, restarting postponed or delayed projects, training, awards, casual lunches, and movie tickets.
Sometimes it is necessary to replace staff with higher performers, but don’t lose sight of the fact you may be overlooking other potential areas of talent growth in unexplored areas. Emulating top performers to create clones will most likely be futile, rewarding the emulation of specific talents that are applicable to a particular role should yield more success.
