Managing for culture and performance means knowing your A, B & C Players
Travis Thomas
No-Nonsense Leadership Coaching and Programs That Deliver Results as CEO & Executive Coach @ Team Buffalo. MBA, GAICD, BPsych, Grad Dip Psychology Advanced (in-progress)
Ahoy!
You may have heard of the concept of A, B and C players on your team.
What the average punter leaves out of the conversation is that performance isn't simply a measure of job outputs; it's a measure of current culture and FUTURE culture fit.
I've put together a graphic below that includes descriptions of how each of your team members will show up if they are an A, B or C player. More on this, and how to manage each,?after you give it a quick read:
Your A's will frustrate and amaze you
The classic mistake I've found leaders make is believing that A Players are easy to manage and smooth sailing. Wrong! They are hard work, but that's what we want. They push the culture forward, raise the bar for better performance, and lift the team beyond what was previously believed possible. The process requires friction and you being comfortable managing someone demanding, but the rewards will be exponential.
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Your B's will perform, but the way their consistency will be a problem
The vast majority of your team will be B players. They are the average employee who turns up, does their role and heads home at a reasonable time. All of this is fine... except they often allow their mood and the small knocks (in life and at work) to vary their performance. One day, they are solid; the next day, they miss a deadline because they were distracted. The process of managing them requires a continual balance of motivation and expectation setting.
Your C's must be moved up or out... immediately
As I write this, you will be picturing a C Player in your head. They popped in there when you reviewed the graphic. One of the tests of a great leader is the velocity and tenacity they exhibit in managing up (to higher performance) or out (of the company) a C Player. C Players destroy morale, frustrate your A Players and unsettle your B players. They have to change or go. It's non-negotiable. The price of leaving them to their own devices is simply too high.
This is, of course, a short crash course in the topic but is intended as a stark reminder of the importance of managing your team members contextually.
Ready to unpack your team performance and lift your game? Message me and we can get stuck in.
Keep fighting the good fight.