As far as business is concerned you’ve hit the lottery. You have managed to lure the ‘rock star’ employee from the big boys and now you have your work cut out for you. How do you keep high earning employees happy? You know they are always looking for the next big thing, so how do you keep them loyal to your company? It’s fairly simple when you get down to why you hired them in the first place.
Let them be superstars
Many companies hire the ‘rock star’ for the glitz and the glamour and then want them to operate like everyone else in the company. You hired this person for a specific reason and what you are doing isn’t working for you. Let them do what you hired them to do. It may rub you wrong, it may create friction with other staff, but you hired them for a reason and trying to get them to behave any other way is contrary to their purpose.
Teach them something new
Many superstars are specialists, so give them the chance to learn a new strategy or a new skill. Employees in general respond positively to continued learning especially if it will lead to acquiring a new skill or next level training. Superstars are no different, if you ensure that the next big opportunity will happen in your company you will have the engagement you are looking for.
Challenge them
Superstars are highly proficient and most are subject matter experts, so use that knowledge. Don’t regulate them to one specific scenario. Challenge them to multiple scenarios and give them a chance to shine in multiple avenues.
Listen to their advice
This should be a no brainer, but CEO’s are known to be highly allergic to accepting professional advice. The superstar knows your situation and knows how to help, so give it a try. Don’t politely listen and follow your own map, engage the advice. Set up a plan that incorporates the specialist advice with some checks and balances to make you feel better. Show your superstar (and your other staff) that their recommendations matter and you will build the bridge to engagement.
In business where you are judged by your last success, it makes sense that superstars are always looking for their next opportunity. Engaging them is a way to reap the benefits of their knowledge and cement employee loyalty.
There’s good and bad to hiring a rock star. We’ve found http://www.ceowomensclub.com/articles/Female-Entrepreneurs-Reality that they can be difficult to manage and often the return isn’t there. To us it’s always about growth. Can you and your rock star grow together or will you eventually grow apart?