Making A + B + C = A
Are you one of those managers who intends to assemble a team of “A” players that will produce extraordinary results? Dream on-it won’t happen-you’ll never assemble all “A” players.
Examine your executive team, or any team for that matter. Sure you’ll find several talented, exceptional Class “A” executives. But, almost without exception, you’ll also find team members performing below an “A” level…maybe even one or two at the “C” level.
The fact is the world is made up of “A,” “B,” “C” and even a few “D” players. Demographics of executive teams seldom differ.
Regardless of the talent composition of your team you’re still expected to deliver “A” results, right? It’s complicated and impractical to clean house, so what’s a manager to do?
Here’s the good news: You don’t need all “A” players to deliver “A” results. What you do need is each of your players aligned in mission, vision and values contributing their talents and best efforts to achieve collective “A” performance.
Here are tips to making A + B + C equal A:
- Understand and acknowledge that it’s not individual accomplishments that deliver the greatest results, but individuals acting together as a team that exceed expected corporate performance.
- Embrace the idea that every individual possesses strengths that can help the team and further organizational goals.
- Accept that your job as manager is twofold: a) identify the inherent strengths of individual team members and b) coach each team member to build on and contribute in their areas of strength.
- Encourage even greater performance through the strengths of “A” players; develop strengths and improve performance of your “B” players; challenge “C” players to “raise the bar” or be ready to move elsewhere; address sub-par performance of “D” players and take appropriate action.
- Create a team environment of trust in which each team member relies on the other to operate in his/her area of strengths.
Important message and one that more companies and their leaders should act upon. The unfortunate truth that never seems to change is As hire As, Bs hire Bs and Cs hire Cs. How that mixes and meshes never seems align properly unless strong leadership has the courage to correct the equation up front.
A great article. I think I would add a Number 6. If someone on the Team, whether an A or B or C or D Team member violates a value of the Team, they are called to task on the violation and depending on the infraction, maybe required to leave the Team.
What a great thought!! That exactly what coaching does: empower people and help them find inner ressources to achieve “higher than expected” results. A team that develop ” Collective Intelligence” ( grade 3 Lenhardt Level) is more likely to perform this way, and raise the bar for all members.