After the great resignation and quiet quitting, organizations are scrambling to retain top talent. They're trying everything from increasing salaries and expanding perks to offering greater flexibility. Yet many companies are still losing the very people they can least afford to lose: their highest performers. This is not primarily a compensation problem. It is a development problem. Research consistently shows that high achievers are not leaving because of pay alone.
Performance management is the first area where urgency is essential. In the UK, only two in ten employees say their performance is managed in a way that truly motivates them to excel. This lack of focus costs dearly. Gallup calculates that disengagement drains £257 billion annually from the UK economy through lost productivity. Urgent leadership means sharper goal-setting, measurable outcomes, and a pace that demands accountability. Clarity and speed, rather than relaxed timelines, inspire performance.
AchieveIt was founded in 2012 and has been one of the most reliable and robust platforms for high achievers. It allows businesses to manage numerous initiatives with a clean, accessible interface that prevents users from becoming overwhelmed. Its dashboards collect information transparently, giving teams the best chance of being on the same page. It is cross-functional, allowing teams from across departments to understand the big picture of the organization's goals.
Amazon is integrating its Leadership Principles into employee evaluations, marking the first time these principles will officially influence performance reviews. This shift aims to reinforce company culture and performance expectations.