Why did you wait so long?

Last week I talked about how an owner decided to get a B-Player off their bus, after doing all she could to support him in stepping up to being an A-Player (it can be done, but rare from what I have seen - which is why recruitment is the most important thing a manager does).?

Speaking with her this week, she told me the team were more than happy to take on the small amount of work the B-Player was actually responsible for.?

As a good capitalist, she upped their pay a little to take on the extra work but there is still a huge savings, and a happier team.??

One of her team members asked, “why did you take so long to get rid of him? A nice guy, but he clearly wasn’t performing - we could all see it.”

Ouch.?

I have received this comment several times early in my business career, when I was a shit manager.?

It’s hard to look past the history and friendship you may have built up with a B-Player, especially if they have been on the team for some time.?

And, it’s your job to put the business and the A-Team first.

Which is why you must invest in your PD, Professional Development, especially in the challenging role as a manager of people.

I do 10 hours a week of PD - audiobooks and podcasts at 1.5 speed when I am driving, cleaning, at the dog park or shooting hoops in the sun.

Do you have any B or C-Players on your team, and do you put time into PD for the corner of your business that needs you most to level-up in at the moment?

One Tool or Professional Development Resource:

If you pay for Spotify, around 90% of the business books I read and recommend are now available there, for free.?

You can listen to up to 15 hours a month on a premium plan - that's more than two books a month.?

Get into it.

Blog posts live this week

• How to find a good accountant for a small business.

Podcasts live this week

• Episode 506: From Trauma to Triumph: The Inspiring Journey of Michael Anthony and the Rise of Think Unbroken, helping trauma survivors learn to love themselves and be the HERO of their own story. (Michael Anthony)
• Episode 507: Confessions of a business book addict: how a female founder and sole parent scaled professional services firm Emerson Health! Learn from a seasoned entrepreneur on effective people management strategies, and rebuilding a business. (Alicia Cook)
• Episode 508: QFF: Maximizing Business Value: Expert Consultation from a Seasoned Consultant at Bober Advisory with 250+ Valuations, Empowering Diverse Businesses with a Strong, Experienced Team. (Len Bober)

Podcasts Throwback

Aged 35 in 2003, had an opportunity to start up an integrated communications agency that gives clients a competitive marketing advantage.

Started with a multimillion-dollar client & grew 3 FTE to 50 FTE in 18 years.

Listen to episode 115 I did with Susan in June 2021.

Regards,

Troy Trewin | Founder?

P.S. If you’re not sure how to work through your #1 growth challenge at the moment (people, marketing, strategy, systems or funding), book a Growth Chat with me. In 20 minutes, I will recommend some resources to help.