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Should you play favorites?

Determining the right degree of difference

http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/hmu/2008/02/should-you-play-favorites-1.php

Leaders at Toyota practice degrees of differential treatment according to organizational level. For instance, says Matthew Gonzales, corporate manager, human resources consulting and labor relations at Toyota, senior managers supervising midlevel managers are likely to invest more time in star performers and give them better development opportunities. At lower levels (such as at large call centers), midlevel managers are supervising individual contributors or line managers. At this level, the treatment of employees may be more equal.

The length of time employees have been with the organization should be taken into account, too, Gonzales points out. “With newer employees, you don’t know yet if they’re an A or B,” he says. “They may not have settled into the role that best fits their skills, so supervisors invest more time in associates who may not be stars.”