Every team has them. You know who they are before you finish reading this sentence.
They’re your GSDs, the “Get Stuff Done” people. When a deadline looms, a project stalls, or a problem lands with no clear owner, they step forward. They don’t need to be asked twice, and they rarely need to be reminded. They deliver, and they keep delivering.
That reliability is a gift. It’s also a risk, because the better someone is at getting things done, the easier it is to take them for granted. Here are two ways leaders can protect them.
1. Make Sure Your GSDs Feel Valued, Not Just Used
Think about how work flows on your team. When something is urgent, whose name comes to mind first? If it’s the same person every time, pause and ask why.
Often, the answer is simple: they always deliver. So the work keeps piling up on their desk. It feels efficient, but over time the message your GSD receives is, “You’re useful to me.” That’s very different from, “You matter to us.”
Being valued means being seen for more than output. Recognize their contributions publicly and specifically. Ask about their goals, not just their progress. Give them credit in the room, and give them growth opportunities outside the crisis of the week. And don’t overload them simply because they always deliver. Dependability should earn them trust and opportunity, not an ever-growing to-do list.
2. Guide Their Passion… but Prevent Burnout
GSDs care. That’s what makes them great. They say yes quickly, they stay late without being asked, and they take ownership of outcomes that technically belong to someone else.
But don’t confuse their willingness to help with unlimited capacity. Enthusiasm is not an infinite resource. A GSD who never says no may simply be a GSD who doesn’t feel safe saying it, or who doesn’t realize how close they are to the edge.
As a leader, you have to be the one who draws the line when they won’t. Check in on workload regularly. Ask what they’d drop if they could. Redistribute tasks before exhaustion forces the conversation. Channel their energy toward the work that matters most rather than letting it be spent on everything at once. Passion needs direction, and it needs rest.
The Question Every Leader Should Ask
Your GSDs are often the engine of your team’s success. If that engine runs too hot for too long, it breaks, and so does the trust you’ve built.
So take an honest look at the environment you’re creating:
Are you developing an environment that empowers your GSDs, or are you unintentionally becoming the obstacle standing in their way?
The answer may be uncomfortable. But leaders who ask it, and act on it, don’t just keep their best people. They help them thrive.
PS: Let’s Connect! Ready to Become a More Confident, Effective Leader?
Whether you're navigating a new leadership role or looking to strengthen your impact as an experienced manager, let's talk. Schedule your complimentary 30-Minute Leadership Clarity Session with Darryl Ross and discover your next step toward becoming a more confident, effective leader.
