Best selling authors, Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton, in their book, Now, Discover Your Strengths… suggest ways to work well with people we think of as “over-achievers.” They suggest that you:
1. Ask the person to do extra projects
2. Excuse the person from meetings where they are not directly involved
3. Help the person to measure progress along the way
4. Invite other energetic and focused workers to work alongside this person
5. Offer both awards for past work and goals for new work
6. Recognize extra time the person gives to work
7. Watch to understand what this person does best and offer more of that
I’d add one more way to work effectively with over-achievers.
8. Listen to what the over-achiever wants most and help that person to achieve it. I’ve been surprised to hear that several over achievers really enjoy down time and some are less experienced with hiking, laughing, boating or just enjoying a game of golf.
Would you add anything to this list?
This is such good advice! I think back to my days in Corporate America as a young over-achiever and I wish I had known this then so I could have helped my boss "handle" me! He was great, but he just didn't know what to do because I got my tasks completed so quickly and had so much extra time. I'm glad to have this post as I now work as a coach with people who might benefit from these suggestions! Thank you!
Posted by: Jodee Bock | August 4, 2006 8:32 AM | Permalink to Comment