Leadership Quote by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
““Star performers are very likely to attract sponsors, and loyal performers are very likely to keep them. But if they fail to distinguish themselves, these loyal performers run the risk of becoming permanent seconds, lieutenants who never make captain. To position themselves for the top job, protégés must therefore contribute something the leader prizes but may intrinsically lack:””
About This Quote
Source Book: Managing Talent, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, 2001
High‑potential employees need a unique contribution that aligns with the leader’s values to avoid being stuck in supporting roles.
In simple terms: Stand out by offering what leaders value but lack.
Key Takeaway
Identify and develop a distinctive skill.
Themes
leadership
career advancement
talent management
Mood
determined
optimistic
Type
advice
insightful
When to use this quote
- career planning
- mentorship
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
strategic contribution
personal branding
Questions to Reflect On
- What unique value can you bring to your leader?
- How can you discover what your leader truly prizes?
A Different Perspective
Leaders may not recognize all valuable contributions.
![“Fashions change, and with the new psychoanalytical perspective of the postwar period [WWII], child rearing became enshrined as thespecial responsibility of mothersany shortcoming in adult life was now seen as rooted in the failure of mothering during childhood.” quote by Sylvia Ann Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bc7/sylvia-ann-hewlett-26752_adult-life_fashions-change-and-with-the-new-psychoa_393158.jpg)
