The nine box grid provides a framework for developing your employees based on their performance and potential. Generally speaking, those with high performance and high potential (top right box) are your stars who should be rewarded, recognized, and retained, as well as challenged, coached, and mentored. They should also be given opportunities for advancement, exposure, and learning. Those with high performance but moderate potential (middle right box) are core performers who should be appreciated, motivated, and supported, as well as developed, trained, and empowered. Opportunities for lateral moves, projects, and feedback should also be provided. High performers with low potential (bottom right box) are specialists who should be acknowledged, valued, and leveraged; their skills should also be optimized, refined, and updated. Those with moderate performance but high potential (top middle box) are potentials who should be challenged, coached, and mentored; they should also have opportunities for feedback, learning, and exposure. Moderately performing individuals with moderate potential (middle middle box) are solid contributors who need to be motivated, supported, and empowered; they should also have opportunities for feedback, projects, and lateral moves. Those with moderate performance but low potential (bottom middle box) are steady performers who should be appreciated, valued, and leveraged; their skills should also be optimized, refined, and updated. Low performers with high potential (top left box) are puzzles who need to be diagnosed, coached, and mentored; they should also have opportunities for feedback, learning, and exposure. Underperformers with moderate potential (middle left box) need to be diagnosed and supported while being developed and trained; they too require opportunities for feedback projects and lateral moves. Lastly the misfits in the bottom left box - those with low performance and low potential - must be evaluated then counseled or redeployed; their skills must also be optimized refined or updated while providing them with opportunities for recognition stability or autonomy.