A-Players: What It Really Takes to Attract Them and Keep Them

Stop hunting for individual A-players. The future belongs to companies that build high-performing A-teams.

#1about 4 minutes

Redefine A-players by behavior and focus on A-teams

Shift focus from individual "A-players" defined by skills to building "A-teams" by identifying core behaviors like integrity, curiosity, and accountability.

#2about 2 minutes

Use radical honesty in employer branding to attract talent

A-players can handle business uncertainty but not dishonesty, making transparency about company challenges the most effective strategy for attraction and retention.

#3about 4 minutes

Retain top talent by moving beyond traditional career paths

Modern retention requires moving beyond pyramid org charts to focus on building networks, understanding individual motivators, and managing complex parallel changes.

#4about 3 minutes

Use A-players as catalysts for organizational transformation

A-players can help accelerate transformation by championing change, but success requires clear communication of the end goal and the "why" behind it for everyone.

#5about 4 minutes

Avoid the key frustrations that make A-players leave

The quickest ways to lose top talent are through dishonesty, micromanagement, and a lack of failure culture, all of which erode essential trust and autonomy.

#6about 7 minutes

Evolve HR and recruiting practices for modern talent

HR must become a strategic business partner and move beyond CVs to identify true potential by assessing skills, curiosity, and willingness to evolve.

#7about 6 minutes

Manage the risk of brilliant but toxic high performers

Companies must empower a brave HR function to address high performers who deliver results but harm the culture, as ignoring toxic behavior leads to wider attrition.

#8about 5 minutes

Hire for the three most important A-player behaviors

When hiring top talent, prioritize core behaviors over skills by looking for self-awareness, genuine curiosity, and a combination of empathy and integrity.

Notes and resources

In this episode, Rudi Bauer talks with Anastasija Remović, Senior Manager Talent Acquisition at Liberty Global, about what it takes to attract and retain A-players.

They discuss how to define top talent, the importance of team dynamics, and the role of employer branding in retention. Anastasija also shares insights on navigating change, building trust, and balancing performance with a strong company culture, along with her perspective on the future of Talent Acquisition.