The 9 Box Grid for
Talent Management
A step-by-step framework
to effectively manage talent
in your organization
Identify potential and drive performance
Performance and potential are abstract How to use this guide
concepts that can be challenging to measure. In this guide, you’ll find out how to create and
So how can you help your organization assess implement the nine-box grid to manage and
how its employees are doing and how far can develop your workforce.
they grow? You’ll discover:
The nine-box grid is a powerful tool that offers ● What the nine-box grid is (Page 4)
you a structured approach to evaluating ● 4 steps to create a nine-box grid (Page 7)
performance and potential. It will give you an ● 5 talent categories in the nine-box grid and
objective lens to identify the stars of the their action plans (Page 13)
organization and those who could shine with ● Best practices for an effective nine-box grid
the right opportunities and support. (Page 20)
Let’s find out how you can build and utilize the
nine-box grid to help your workforce improve
their performance and reach their full potential!
2
Download your template
This ready-to-use nine-box grid template will
help simplify your talent appraisal process. All
you need to do is fill in the relevant information.
The template will automatically populate the
nine-box grid, helping you to make
well-informed talent decisions.
In this document, you will find:
● Instructions on how to use the template
● A term sheet containing label for categories
of performance and potential
● The nine-box grid template
Download your nine-box
● A sheet containing the backend calculation
to support the template
grid template now
Microsoft Excel
3 3
The nine-box grid explained
Understand what the nine-box grid is and
how it can benefit your talent management
strategy.
You’ll also explore the four steps you need to
go through to create your own nine-box grid:
● Step 1: Determine your target
● Step 2: Define performance criteria
● Step 3: Define potential criteria
● Step 4: Validate and visualize data
4
What is the nine-box grid?
The nine-box is a talent management tool that
allows you to divide employees into nine groups
based on their performance and potential.
HIGH
Dysfunctional High
Stars
geniuses potentials
Potential
Up or out High
Core players
dilemmas performers
Up or out
Bad hires Workhorses
grinders
LOW HIGH
Performance
5
Illustration by Storyset.
For more info, download the full guide
via the link in the description!
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