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RETENTION STRATEGIES

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Retention of the Successful Performer: The “Middle Child” of Organizations

It is well understood that one of the biggest challenges for organizations is employee retention. Experts indicate that this challenge is only going to become greater as we deal with the changes in our workforce over the coming years (fewer available employees, generational difference in approach to work, etc.). Current retention strategies may continue to be useful, and more creative strategies may be needed for the future. But whatever organizations’ do to retain their employees, I offer one caution: Do not only focus these strategies on top performers at the expense of the successful performers – the “middle child” of organizations.

We’ve all heard of the “middle child” syndrome in families. This is the child that feels invisible within the family, often thinking that they are nothing special since all the attention goes to the older and younger siblings. I contend that a similar phenomenon occurs within organizations. The high performers are the “oldest children”. They receive lots of praise and positive attention and opportunities. The lower performers are the “youngest children”, only as it relates to the amount of attention that they require when their performance is being managed up or out. That leaves us with the successful performers, those that can be counted on to consistently (and often quietly) deliver to, and frequently exceed expectations. And these successful performers comprise greater than 60 percent of an organization’s total population.

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