Typical vs. Maximal Performance

If I was a business owner who needed to make a hiring decision to either hire Avery who had a high-performance ceiling but in most situations, her typical performance was relatively low. Or Jamie who had a lower performance ceiling but consistently provided good results, I would choose Jamie. As a business owner, I want consistency. Performance= motivation x ability. Avery lacks the motivation but has the ability to excel when necessary. Avery has the motivation but her ability is lower. I can make plans for how I will need to approach issues if they arise that are out of Jamie’s ability. I can not make plans to motivate Avery to perform her tasks consistently as part of her daily routine.
Avery would be a valuable employee in an environment where she would not require to perform at a consistent level but would only need to perform when she could give a higher level of performance for a shorter period of time. This would be the right environment for her because she would not experience burnout as quickly as she would if she were in a role that required consistency.
Jamie would do best in a role that requires regular routines. She would do well in an environment where her expectations are consistent and the requirements of her performance are predictable.

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