--- title: 4 Things High Performers Want From Managers | The People Plan description: 4 Things High Performers Want From Managers by Diana Southall | Jun 16, 2015 | action plans, coaching, culture, job fit, performance | 0 comments Zenger Fo --- [Skip to content](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/4-things-high-performers-want#main-content) ![Atlas Alignment Growth Partners logo](https://www.atlasalign.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AA%20logo%203%20inch.jpg?width=300&height=60&name=AA%20logo%203%20inch.jpg) - [Home](https://www.atlasalign.com/) - [Services](https://www.atlasalign.com/services) - [About](https://www.atlasalign.com/about) - [Blog](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog) - [Resources](https://www.atlasalign.com/resources) - [Events](https://www.atlasalign.com/events) - [Contact](https://www.atlasalign.com/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://www.atlasalign.com/) - [Services](https://www.atlasalign.com/services) - [About](https://www.atlasalign.com/about) - [Blog](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog) - [Resources](https://www.atlasalign.com/resources) - [Events](https://www.atlasalign.com/events) - [Contact](https://www.atlasalign.com/contact) - [Book a Chat](https://www.atlasalign.com/discovery) [Book a Chat](https://www.atlasalign.com/discovery) Jun 16, 2015, 12:00:00 AM # 4 Things High Performers Want From Managers [Diana Southall](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/author/diana-southall) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/4-things-high-performers-want) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/4-things-high-performers-want) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/4-things-high-performers-want) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/4-things-high-performers-want) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/4-things-high-performers-want) ![](https://www.atlasalign.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/zf-driving-results-ee-engage.jpg?width=1080&height=675&name=zf-driving-results-ee-engage.jpg) Zenger Folkman report that employees who are the most satisfied and committed work for leaders who do **4 crucial “behaviors that focus on achieving challenging goals”** 1. Inspire them to high levels of effort 2. Energize them to achieve exceptional results 3. Create an atmosphere of continual improvement 4. Skillful at getting them to stretch for goals that go beyond what they originally thoughts was possible BAM- that sounds like a recipe for some high performing work! *To put it another way*: - These managers have a *People Plan for each person* with mutually beneficial projects and work that are designed to be challenging. - This “stretch” work *naturally develops* the team member, and keeps her energized and inspired (and doing her best work). - Employees feels that “the company provides *excellent learning and growth opportunities* for my own development.” (This is the key to keeping employees from looking for another job.) - The positive coaching provided by the manager creates a team culture to perform at a high level, and this *positive “peer pressure” continually reinforces the positive* behaviors and outcomes. This is the magic atmosphere where employees are engaged… performing with discretionary extra effort. The most successful employers have 70-80% engaged employees, the worst 10-20%. **What if 7x more employees were terrific at their job- would that make a different to your team atmosphere and achievement?** If you want your department, your location, your organization to succeed- *the key is managers who can positive coach and challenge the team to outperform every day.* [coaching](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/coaching), [strategy](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/strategy), [Uncategorized](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/uncategorized), [training and development](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/training-and-development), [ScalingUp](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/scalingup), [performance](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/performance), [Video](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/video), [action plans](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/action-plans), [job fit](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/job-fit), [job role](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/job-role), [planning](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/planning), [sales process](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/sales-process), [accountability](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/accountability), [Delegation](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/delegation), [recruiting](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/recruiting), [Cash](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/cash), [culture](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/culture), [rewards](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/rewards), [Execution](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/execution), [dashboards](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/tag/dashboards) ## Related posts ## [Study Finds 10 Key Competencies for High Performers](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/study-finds-10-key-competencies-for-high-performers) [thepeopleplan](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/author/thepeopleplan) [Read more](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/study-finds-10-key-competencies-for-high-performers) ## [Do we dread performance reviews?](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/do-we-dread-performance-reviews) [thepeopleplan](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/author/thepeopleplan) [Read more](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/do-we-dread-performance-reviews) ## [11 Reasons Why Employees Don’t Do the Job](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/11-reasons-why-dont-do-job) [Diana Southall](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/author/diana-southall) [Read more](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog/11-reasons-why-dont-do-job) --- [![AA logo 600x200](https://www.atlasalign.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AA%20logo%20600x200.jpg?width=900&height=300&name=AA%20logo%20600x200.jpg "AA logo 600x200")](http://www.AtlasAlign.com) Mailing address: PO Box 1016 Buffalo NY  Serving WNY, Southern Tier and the Great Lakes \[in-person\] and Globally \[virtual\]  [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/atlasalignment/) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/pages/People-Plan/192367500792264) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf6sKTSNEnhuAPfTUa5tqZw) - [Home](https://www.atlasalign.com) - [Services](https://www.atlasalign.com/services) - [About](https://www.atlasalign.com/about) - [Blog](https://www.atlasalign.com/blog) - [Resources](https://www.atlasalign.com/resources) - [Events](https://www.atlasalign.com/events) - [Contact](https://www.atlasalign.com/contact) [                               Terms](https://www.atlasalign.com/terms)                                               [Privacy](https://www.atlasalign.com/privacy) Copyright © 2026, Atlas Alignment Partners Inc                  ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=45108&fmt=gif)