As we consider the UR quadrant, think about your company in terms of a medieval society. This high-performance warrior is indispensable against your enemy but you never know when he’ll abandon the cause, switch sides or kill you. Yet for today’s battle, he’s critically important.
An interesting person to have in the organization; on the plus side, typically the egos and capabilities are so high you’ll get top-notch work when their attention is on the subject at hand. He’ll dazzle customers, investors, and sometimes other employees with his skill. Don’t make the common mistake. Look out for your own interests; you owe this person nothing other than the specific compensation which they earn each day. You can’t ever fully trust him. With trust, you have a Star Performer; without trust, nothing he does can be accepted without checks and balances. Your job is therefore much harder. Not only are you responsible for the end result, you’re also the means by which you get there.
Treat him like a Mercenary. Recognize his loyalties may be anywhere, but for sure are highly vested internally. He might be with you totally on the next battle; but who knows? Double-check sources for any critical decisions or implementations; at the same time, reap the benefit of his skill. Keep him in the job while you privately look for his replacement.
The day the replacement is hired, fire the Mercenary without any empathy or severance other than what will fulfill your contractual obligation. He played you, you play him. It’s all fair.