Turn strengths into your best management tool
Imagine a typical week where your lowest-performing staff get your emails returned in minutes, while your top achiever can’t get five minutes on your calendar. You know you’re rewarding the wrong behavior. Great managers fix this by spending more time with their stars.
Start by listing performance scores for each team member. Then review your calendar—chances are, your time is lopsided. Now shift your focus: cut a half-day with your struggling associate and give it to your rising star. During that new session, ask, “What’s your next milestone?” and help remove any roadblocks standing in the way.
You’ll be surprised by the ripple effect. Your top performers energize your team, share best practices, and model success. By focusing on strengths instead of firefighting weaknesses, you generate lasting momentum and free yourself from endless cycle of band-aids.
Your best people crave your attention more than anyone. Give them the time they deserve, and you won’t just boost individual results—you’ll lift the performance of your entire team.
Pick two hours this afternoon to block off and meet your top performer. Ask, “What is your next big goal?” Listen carefully, then agree on one action you’ll clear from their desk. Schedule that follow-up—and watch how your focused support helps them achieve more. Try it today.
What You'll Achieve
Internally, you’ll feel more in control as you see leverage in your own time. Externally, your top performers will accelerate growth and rally their peers.
Invest time where it multiplies
Rank your team’s top performers
List your people in order of average performance over the past quarter to reveal your highest achievers.
Audit your calendar
Block off two weeks and track every hour you spend with each direct report. Identify who dominates your time.
Reallocate face-time
Match the time you spend to your performance list—aim to spend 50% more with your top quartile.
Cultivate peak performance
Use those extra hours to ask, “What’s your next personal best?” and to help remove any obstacles blocking their path.
Reflection Questions
- Whom do you currently spend the most time with?
- What could happen if you doubled your time with your top achievers?
- Which obstacles can you remove today to help your star perform even better?
Personalization Tips
- In software, shadow your top coder on a bug-hunt session and offer resources to accelerate their work.
- In marketing, sit down with your most creative copywriter to brainstorm a new campaign and unblock approvals.
- In education, observe your highest-impact teacher’s class and coach them on spreading their best practices.
First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently
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