What is the “Outperformer Trap” and how to deal with it?
The phenomenon of the ‘Outperformer Trap’ affects talented professionals whose excellence becomes a hindrance in recruitment processes. Companies fear that such employees will quickly become bored, prove too costly, or demotivate the rest of the team. Concerns over disrupting balance and internal pay structures often lead them to prefer ‘safer’ candidates.
Organizations that manage to break free from this trap gain a significant competitive edge. Adopting innovative approaches, revising recruitment processes, and promoting a culture of collaboration over competition are key.
For employers, it is important to adapt structures to ambitious talents, and for ‘outperformers’, managing the perception of their achievements is crucial. Overcoming this trap requires courage and innovation from both employers and candidates to harness the full potential of human resources.