If you manage a high performer, or potential high performer, whom you want to help excel and keep at your company, then be a great mentor and coach to them. Challenge and support their achievements — otherwise, they’ll be out the door in a heartbeat.
I learned the importance of challenging high performers early in my career when I mentally trained elite athletes, including 31 Olympians, a few Olympic teams and a professional sports team. The athletes who sustained greatness over a long period thrived by taking on big, new challenges and greatly respected (or loved) coaches who saw their greatest potential and helped them achieve it. Truly high performers continually seek out who and what can make them better.
My grade school gym teacher Mr. Shabel was the first person to see my potential and challenge me. Previous gym teachers just had us play games, but Mr. Shabel focused strongly on fitness and play. Early in the school year, he conducted physical fitness testing that included pull-ups; most kids couldn’t even do one. When it was my turn, I approached the bar with confidence, reached up and did one really good pull-up.
Mr. Shabel smiled; I smiled back. Then he created a magic moment that changed me for life. He said, “That was a good pull-up, and if you practiced, I bet you could do 10!”
Wow — Mr. Shabel believed I could do 10 pull-ups! My whole body buzzed with excitement; I’d never had a fitness goal or been offered an “I believe in you” challenge. From that day on, I slipped into the gym every day and practiced pull-ups until I could do 10.
One day after gym class, I asked Mr. Shabel if I could show him something. I led him to the pull-up bar and did 10 pull-ups. The biggest smile came across his face, and he said, “You can be very proud!” I was.
Over 50 years later, Mr. Shabel’s “I believe in you” challenge is still an important part of my mindset. I love taking on big business, personal and physical challenges. In fact, I recently did the longest, hardest workout of my life and I am well over 60 years old. I’m also now an Entrepreneur Operating System® (EOS®) franchise owner and am having the greatest success and positive impact of my 37-year business career this year.
It’s a critical time to keep your high performers motivated and engaged in their work. Research from Mental Health America and the Faas Foundation found that 71% of employees are seeking new jobs for myriad reasons, including employers not giving them enough recognition or support. The great resignation is underway!
Great mentors and coaches help employees become even more than they realized they could be. They see their employees’ potential, challenge them to be better, express their belief in them, and help them succeed. When you believe in the people you coach/mentor/lead, they’re much more likely to feel inspired in their work and connected to you — and to not take part in the great resignation!
