Keep Your A-Players Engaged and Thriving: Unlock the Secret to Retaining Top Talent

If you’ve ever lost a top team member or felt the frustration of seeing your best employees leave for "better" opportunities, you’re not alone. Many business owners face the challenge of retaining A-Players—those talented individuals who consistently go above and beyond.

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. You can keep your A-Players engaged, motivated, and performing at their best.

Understanding A-Players?

A-Players are highly driven, intrinsically motivated, and always looking for ways to improve. But they also seek growth and career advancement. If they don’t see a clear path forward at your company, they’ll move on to the next opportunity. Talk with your team about their goals and how you can support them with their professional aspirations. Knowing what drives them is key to keeping them on your team.

The Power of Autonomy, Trust, and Growth

A-Players thrive in environments where they have autonomy, trust, and the opportunity to grow. One of the most effective ways to retain them is by creating a culture that empowers them to take charge of their development. When they feel like they’re trusted to lead and have room to grow, they’re much more likely to stay engaged.

The A-Player Development Tracker

This tool can be a game-changer for your business. It’s designed to help you have meaningful career development conversations with your top performers. By tracking their career aspirations and showing them a clear path forward, you give them a reason to stay and grow with your company. The A-Player Development Tracker empowers your team members to take ownership of their career, with you as their guide and mentor.

Our research shows that 8 out of 10 business owners aren’t investing in team development, and 2 out of 3 don’t even have regular 1:1s with their team members. These are massive missed opportunities. Investing in the growth of your A-Players not only keeps them engaged but also increases your business’s profitability.

Ready to Take Action? We’ve created a free A-Player Development Tracker to help you retain the A-Players in your business. Plus, if you’d like more personalized support, you can book a demo with our How to Hire the Best Strategist, Kaitlyn Beaver, at tapthepotential.com, and she’ll walk you through how to use this powerful tool to retain your top talent.

About the Authors

Sabrina Starling

Sabrina Starling, PhD, PCC, BCC, The Business Psychologist, is the international bestselling author of the How to Hire the Best series and The 4 Week Vacation?. Keynote speaker, founder of ?www.tapthepotential.com, and host of the top-ranking Profit by Design podcast, she and her team help entrepreneurs take their lives back from their businesses. They are on a mission to have 10,000 entrepreneurs take the Work Supports Life? Pledge.?

Kaitlyn Beaver

Kaitlyn Beaver, Certified Question Thinking Officer, Certified Executive Assistant, and Certified Director of Operations, is the How to Hire the Best Strategist and Success & Connect Team Lead at Tap the Potential. With 8+ years of experience in non-profit leadership, workforce development, consulting, and marketing, Kaitlyn supports organizations and entrepreneurs making a positive community impact.?

She specializes in equipping leaders with tools and support to prevent burnout, disengagement, and toxic workplaces. Kaitlyn thrives on helping leaders achieve their personal and professional goals, putting people first, and fostering a positive workplace culture. She loves seeing the Tap the Potential strategist team make a difference in leaders' lives and their communities.