Rooting for the next best

Wherever I have worked with a Team, I've made it a point to root for the next best. And it has worked miracles.

Let me explain. As always happens in organizations, the execution capability of the team members varies, and that is normal. Some are quick to grasp and deliver expected results without too much supervision. On the other hand, some require positive reinforcement and some periodic validation to move ahead. There are some other with whom you would make a choice to move a mountain than to assign them a critical and often time-bound task.

The reason why I opt for the second best is because they often know that they are not the best but desire to be better. As supervisors we look over our shoulder for our own convenience. So, knowledge, skill, opportunities get distributed unevenly among the team, and become self-perpetuating.

When you make conscious effort to choose the next best, they also know that you are taking a risk, betting on them. They therefore also work double hard, so they don't let you down. Over time, they do not stay as second best. They shine!

They become stars that you can boast about. What's been your experience?