July 17, 2025
Keep Your Stars Close in Challenging Times
I recently had lunch with a senior operations executive for a large, global company. Not surprisingly, he's been spending much of his time planning for the impact tariffs will have on his business's manufacturing operations. We also talked about how he's managing his team in this extremely challenging time.
He said, "I'm telling all of my direct reports to keep their high performers very close. In times like these, we are going to rely on them more than ever."
I'm sure many other operations executives are thinking similar thoughts. These are tough times to be in operations. High performers are under heavy strain, and it's essential to keep them happy and engaged.
It's also essential to make sure they stay. Departures of high performers always hurt, but they hurt even more in difficult times.
How do you keep them close? When faced with big challenges, high performers naturally rally to support the team. But you can't take their good will for granted.
Remind your high performers how much they're valued. Acknowledge the demands on them are even higher than usual. Let them know you appreciate their contributions and their efforts. Make sure they understand they have a bright future at the company.
During periods of business disruption, your top talent becomes even more critical to your organization's success. While high performers typically rise to meet challenges, wise leaders know that appreciation, acknowledgment, and clear paths for advancement are essential to retain these valuable team members when they're under unprecedented pressure. Don't wait until it's too late - keep your stars close when you need them most.
