Why do talented people remain committed to a leader and an organization when they have attractive offers elsewhere? One reason is that the best leaders give those followers opportunities that they can’t get anywhere else.
Truly talented colleagues love to learn and look forward to new challenges that will stretch their skills and expand their knowledge. Exceptional leaders give them exactly what they want most — an opportunity to prove themselves in an arena they have never experienced before.
Serving on a board, planning a large event, taking responsibility for a new initiative, embracing a new role, speaking at an industry gathering, writing a book with colleagues, tackling a big account, benchmarking best practices, traveling to interview clients. What would you add to the list? If an opportunity is the kind our colleagues can only get right here, then they double down in their commitment to expand their skills in our neighborhood.
Challenge is what keeps people committed when the going gets tough and other opportunities knock. New tests of skill also remind people why they decided to call this home in the first place. Leaders who create the glue that binds talented colleagues always remember that the most talented colleagues relish the chase to new ground and learning. If talent doesn’t find opportunity and challenge with you, they’ll look to find it elsewhere. Don’t let them.
