This episode features Naomi Titleman meeting with Glain Roberts-McCabe, Founder & President of The Roundtable Inc.

They dive deep into high-potential talent research, exploring what engages top performers and what causes them to burn out. This episode features insights from Roundtable's latest research on high-potential leaders.

Key discussion topics include:

Defining High Potentials:

• Balance between driving results and maintaining cultural alignment
• Core motivational drivers: helping others, excelling, adaptability
• Behavioral expectations vs. underlying motivational energy

What Engages High Potentials:

• Clarity: Clear priorities and understanding of goals
• Transparency: Honest career conversations and realistic expectations
• Quality career discussions: Beyond linear promotion paths
• Cross-functional opportunities:Leveraging adaptive strengths across organization

Major Barriers & Burnout Risks:

• Firefighting mode: 45% of respondents stuck in reactive work
• Unclear priorities: Moving goalposts without context
• Resource constraints: Ambitious targets without adequate support
• Development crowding: Operational demands overshadowing growth opportunities

Evolving Leadership Requirements:

• Strategic thinking: Increased emphasis on forward-thinking capabilities
• Technical depth: Leaders need subject matter expertise, not just general management

Cooperation: Willingness to trade individual agendas for organizational benefit

You can learn more about the research here:

https://goroundtable.com/the-2026-roundtable-report-on-high-potential-leaders/

And follow Glain on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glain/

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