High-performance professionals: main themes and research agenda

Vanessa Cepellos
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21529/RECADM.2026005

Abstract

Academic studies on high-performing professionals have grown significantly in recent decades. However, the research remains scattered, making it difficult to gain a comprehensive overview and to identify theoretical gaps that could be addressed through further investigation. Based on a systematic literature review, it was possible to identify the main themes discussed on the topic: (a) Definition of High-Performing Professionals, (b) Influence of High-Performing Professionals on Organizations, (c) Influence of High-Performing Professionals on Teams, and (d) Social Consequences Faced by High-Performing Professionals. No national academic studies were found that approached the topic from the individual perspective of the high-performing professional; instead, the theme has been addressed exclusively from the perspective of high-performing teams. This article contributes to the literature by discussing how the organizational environment can enable an individual to achieve high performance, challenging the notion that professional excellence is solely a matter of individual traits and behavior. In this regard, the article proposes a new definition of a high-performing professional as “an individual who demonstrates higher productivity than their peers, based on certain individual characteristics and behaviors, combined with favorable working conditions that support exceptional outcomes.” Finally, the article proposes a research agenda that includes topics such as the mental health of high-performing professionals, gender issues, among others.


Keywords

high-performing professionals; star professionals; high-potential professionals

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