So, you want “unicorns” on your team? Stop making them average

Focus on strengths before weaknesses
Traditional performance evaluations often assume an employee's greatest room for growth lies in areas for improvement. But, in many case, this actually only makes them more well-rounded. You know…just like everyone else.

High-impact leaders double down on an individual’s "unicorn" qualities…their unique talents, core competencies, principles, and personal backgrounds that offer the greatest room for mastery.

That’s because the human brain is wired to remember criticism, no matter how constructive. Yet, it grows most effectively through praise, meaning leaders should prioritize identifying what is working, why, and drill that into their heads.

By shifting focus from “hey, you could really be better at this” to “wow, you’re really good at this and I want to help you be even better,” leaders create a high-performance culture driven by unique, “unicorn” potential rather than one course-corrected to be more of the same.