9 Box Grid: A Practitioner’s Guide

This comprehensive guide explains the 9-box grid as a talent management tool that segments employees into nine categories based on performance levels (low, moderate, high) and potential levels (low, moderate, high). The framework provides a simple yet powerful approach for identifying valuable talent, making strategic workforce decisions, and prioritizing talent management efforts where they will have the biggest impact. Engineering leaders will learn how to use this holistic talent review system for succession planning, identifying high-potential employees, developing targeted coaching strategies, and creating appropriate development paths for each talent segment while avoiding the trap of simply placing people in boxes.