Short-Handed and Thriving: Turning Scarcity into Opportunity

Have you ever felt that gut-wrenching moment when your team is suddenly short-handed? It's a feeling many leaders know all too well – the panic of lost productivity, the scramble to cover gaps, the fear of falling behind. We get trapped in the scarcity mindset, clinging to anyone, even if they're not the right fit, just to avoid being shorthanded. But what if I told you that being short-handed could actually be a catalyst for growth?

I learned this lesson the hard way years ago. I had a salesperson, let's call him John, who was a rainmaker. He consistently exceeded his sales targets. But John was also a difficult to work with. He undermined his colleagues, disrespected them openly and could also be this way with our clients. Letting him go felt like a huge risk, especially because hitting monthly targets were a must. My head was screaming scarcity – we needed those sales! But my gut knew it was the right thing to do. And while we did take a short-term hit, losing John ultimately strengthened our team. It showed the rest of the team that they mattered, and it paved the way for a more positive, supportive, and ultimately more successful sales environment.

My experience taught me a valuable lesson, one that I recently saw play out again with a CEO I coach. She had been having the feeling that she needed to let someone go for some time and then this person forced her hand and she was forced to do let her go. Another team member saw this go down and also left the company shortly after that. Panic set in. But in the scramble to rebuild, the CEO and their team discovered something remarkable. They realized they had been overstaffed. Two people were essentially doing the work of one, creating redundancy and slowing things down. By streamlining their processes, they not only managed with a smaller team but actually became more efficient. And to cap it all off, they had their best month in the history of their business to start the year.

This isn't just about cutting costs. It's about recognizing that holding onto someone who isn't a values fit poisons the team culture. It erodes trust, creates resentment, and ultimately hurts performance in the long run. Principled decisions, though painful in the short term, build a foundation of integrity. They show your team what you stand for, attracting and retaining people who share your values. They create an environment of abundance, where everyone can thrive.

So, I ask you: What's one area in your team or organization where you're tolerating a less-than-ideal situation because of fear of scarcity? What's one small step you could take this week to address it? You might be surprised at the abundance that awaits you on the other side.