One way to enable your A-players to become great leaders is to implement a leadership development plan whereby you provide little and often opportunities for them to practice open and honest conversations about performance with any member of their team, irrespective of their positions. This is the skill of “real talk” and it can be learned, which means it can be practiced.
When looking at your A-players for positions of leadership, have you observed a strong ability to pass on their knowledge via displaying strong coaching behaviors?