Our company gives every employee a 'projected promotion date', from Day 1. If you don't meet your promotion date (and that is adjusted based on how the economy

Our company gives every employee a 'projected promotion date', from Day 1. If you don't meet your promotion date (and that is adjusted based on how the economy and the company as a whole are doing, etc. - it's not set in stone), then you are asked to leave. Plain and simple. Up, or Out. There is no settling into a role as a mediocre mid level manager - the only role you can settle into is that of partner (which requires $millions of dollars in sales and revenue per year, so you can't exactly slouch at that either). It works AMAZINGLY well at keeping/attracting awesome talent. I've yet to meet anybody 'below average' or really even 'average' from a motivation/kick ass perspective. The culture is refreshingly honest and progressive.