(We've gotten a bit off topic this deep in the thread. At this point we're really just talking about general management skills which really isn't a big thing for a CEO of any reasonably sized company. That being said....)

Robert: Sorry I can't work late this week. It's my kid's birthday tomorrow.

Boss: "Robert isn't a team player, let's contrive a reason to fire him so we don't have to pay unemployment."

Back in the real world it's not unemployment that you're gonna worry about. It's how much severance you're going to pay him. Somewhere between 1 and 3 months. Which he'll use to take a nice vacation and then easily go get another job whenever he's ready.

And you'll be down a talented employee that's hard to replace.

Nice work!

What's your alternative? "Gee, Robert you have such pretty eyes... please do this report?"

Intelligent, talented people don't fall for that kind of stuff in my experience.

> What's your alternative?

It's trivial really => You do nothing and get the fuck out of the way so Robert can do the job.

Intelligent & Talended people will do the work. They don't need (nor want) a bozo to dictate their every move ;)

You have to create an environment where Robert wants to do it before you even ask him.

Honestly, this sort of non-quantifiable magic reminds me of Office Space.

"I have people skills! I am good with dealing with people can't you understand that! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNuu9CpdjIo

> What's your alternative?

A good leader has a good answer to this question!

If Robert is a superstar and he's tactful with his colleagues, then this will never happen.