Yes – just like your children – you love all of your employees the same.
But, let’s face it – if you have some stars – you do not want to lose them.
If you have recently added a star to your team, use this as a personal wakeup call. You need to step up your game. You need to manage your team and your new star in an A+ fashion. While many employees might put up with your mediocre management, your star will not – not for long.
According to a recent article in Harvard Business Review, keeping these high-flyers requires a management style that balances high-stakes work with long-term career satisfaction. This is something that you can apply to the management of all your employees.
You should have regular developmental conversations with everyone on your staff – and these are especially critical for your stars. Ask your team members:
- What’s working for you?
- What’s not working for you?
- What would you like to do next?
To prevent your star staff from becoming someone else’s success story, consider these approaches:
- Prioritize Autonomy: High performers crave the space to work their way. Micromanagement is the fastest way to drive a superstar toward the exit.
- Deliver on the “Sell”: When you hired them, you promised a specific culture and impact. Now, you must ensure their day-to-day reality matches that pitch.
- Manage Team Dynamics: You need to give your stars what they need to thrive without creating resentment among existing team members. It’s a delicate balance of providing extra support while ensuring everyone feels valued.
- Hold Everyone Accountable to High Standards: This is the right way to manage a team, and high performers get especially frustrated with organizational mediocrity.
- Reinforce the Difference They are Making: Make sure the entire team knows their impact and show people how their specific actions contribute to the organization’s performance.
- Identify Their Drivers: Not every star is motivated by the same thing. For some, it’s autonomy; for others, it’s constant learning or high-profile visibility.
A star who feels stagnant or ignored will start looking elsewhere. You need to pay special attention to keep them engaged, adaptable, and constantly learning. Bring you’re A+ game to work every day!
*Ideas for this blog taken from: Knight, R. “Don’t Lose Your Star New Hire,” Harvard Business Review online, October 14, 2025.
