The Difference Between 'A' Players and 'B' Players Lies in Mentorship

“You don’t build a business. You build people, and people build the business.” – Zig Ziglar

Great companies understand that when they invest in the time to #hire the right people, they will build a successful business. But what does investing in the right people look like??

All businesses require two types of employees to become great – A Players and B Players. Both are incremental to running a successful operation. Only one will afford you the leverage necessary to push your company to the next level.?

Businesses rely on B Players to get the job done. These individuals are the workhorses of the business. They show up, meet their goals, attend their meetings, and answer their emails. B Players clock in at 9 and clock out at 5. Is there anything wrong with this? No. Great companies are built on the work performed by B Players.?

A Players on the other hand are your #nextgeneration #leaders. They exceed their goals, contribute to meetings, and pursue advancement. A Players constantly operate in a ‘growth’ frame of mind. They look to advance their education and training by attending conferences and seminars. They sign up for training programs, attend networking events, join peer groups, and may even elect to obtain advanced degrees or certifications. Most importantly, A Players seek #mentors.

Last month, I shared an article “Lessons on Leadership” where I discussed how #mentorship is one the strongest building blocks for #leadership. I, like many of you, have sought mentors throughout my career and credit much of my personal and #professionalgrowth to the guidance of these individuals. Today, I am still actively involved in a #peergroup with C-level executives from various industries. We meet regularly to talk about business and act as a sounding board to one another on the challenges we are faced with as leaders.?

In this phase of my life, mentorship has morphed into #coaching. The feedback I receive and provide to my peers helps me continue my pursuit as a great leader, and it allows me to continue to grow. Great leaders understand this basic aspect of business: keep growing.

#Futureleaders routinely attach themselves to mentors throughout their lifetime, whether they recognize the action, or it is an intentional ask. Early on, these individuals seek guidance from a coach or a teacher as they navigate their high school and early adolescent years. They seek mentorship from college professors, trainers, and early employers as they lay the groundwork for their career path. Future A Players always seek out respected adults to act as a sounding board and to provide open and honest feedback as they make life decisions.

Employees who have this innate sense of leadership are always on the hunt for what will get them to the next level. They will look to their superiors for direction and approach constructive criticism as a building block on their journey. A Players will not be afraid to try, and with the right mentor, they will not buckle under failure, but instead achieve greater success because of it.?

Having the right mentor allows employees to evolve and build respect for themselves, their peers, and their industry. It does more than show them the ropes and help them get to the next level. Mentorship taps into a deeper part of the learning journey for those who seek it and molds them into incredible employees who are always looking to advance their training, seeking new information, and identifying ways by which they can build their professional success.?

A Players will bridge to higher levels of employment, and they will continue to seek new mentors to guide them into advanced positions from middle-to-upper #management, until they too become C-suite executives where they can join peer groups and become mentors themselves. This desire to grow personally and professionally goes hand-in-hand and never stops. So while you can, and should, build a company on the work of B Players, it is absolutely critical to find, mentor, and retain exceptional A Players. Without their drive, your businesses will never achieve new heights. And, if you are fortunate enough, those A Players will be the ones #perpetuating the business and grooming the next generation leaders for your company.