3 Ways to Become a Magnet for High Performers

Top performers aren’t just looking for a job. They’re looking for alignment.

With culture.
With leadership.
With opportunity.

So the real question isn’t “How do we find more talent?”
It’s “What makes talent choose us in the first place?”

Here are 3 ways to make your organization a magnet for high performers:

1. Build a Culture People Can See and Feel

Culture isn’t your brand colors. It’s your employee experience.

In our research, 80% of workers say they need a strong sense of purpose to stay engaged. 

But here’s the problem: 53% of in-person employees don’t think leadership understands what culture feels like for them.

That gap is where good talent walks out.

Try This:

• Embed values in every stage of the employee journey: hiring, onboarding, and coaching.
• Show how the company’s mission shows up in customer feedback and team wins.

Source: 2025 National Workplace Trends Study

2. Make Leadership the Reason They Stay

52% of employees would take less money to work for a leader they believe in.

But 57% said poor leadership makes them want to leave.

Try This:

• Require two growth-focused conversations per year from every leader
• Launch leader scorecards tied to coaching and retention
• Run monthly “Ask Me Anything” forums with senior leaders to increase visibility

Source: 2025 National Workplace Trends Study

3. Design a System for Employee Growth

Retention starts where growth begins.

81% of employees say top-performing companies are the ones that prioritize learning and development. 

42% of Gen Z are actively job-hunting due to lack of career advancement.

Try This:

• Build transparent role maps that show the steps to advancement
• Launch skill-building sessions that tie directly to promotion paths
• Create mentoring circles that pair junior staff with internal experts

Source: 2025 National Workplace Trends Study

Weekly Leadership & Workplace Challenge

Look at your org from a top performer's lens this week.

• Is your culture visible?
• Is leadership credible?
• Is growth tangible?

If the answer is unclear, then your best people may already be looking elsewhere.

Want to become a Destination Workplace™? Visit: https://destinationworkplace.com
To book Betsy to speak at your next event, visit https://betsyallenmanning.com

About Betsy:

Featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC, Betsy Allen-Manning is a high-energy leadership keynote speaker and workplace culture strategist who helps organizations develop stronger leaders, high performers, and build cultures where people stay, grow, and thrive. Through her national workplace research and The DNA Keynote Series, she delivers data-backed, high-interaction presentations powered by results-driven frameworks. Betsy is also the founder of Destination Workplace™, an award-winning leadership training company in Dallas, trusted by some of the world’s most elite brands nationwide.