What Makes Stars Stand Out?
Our research team asked top executives, middle managers, brainpowered workers, and other researchers what makes the difference between star performers and middle performers. Our goal was to find out what made the stars so much more productive and valuable. We received these typical responses: * Stars are smarter; they have higher IQs. * Stars are better problem solvers and more creative. * Stars are more driven and ambitious; they have a “will to succeed.” * Stars are more outgoing; they get along well with people. * Stars are risk takers and mavericks. When the list was final, we had accumulated forty-five factors that managers and star performers close to the action believed led to star performance. They grouped nicely into three main categories: (1) cognitive factors, such as higher IQ, logic, reasoning, and creativity, (2) personality factors, such as self-confidence, ambition, risk taking, and a feeling of personal control over one’s destiny, and (3) social factors, such as interp
