THE X FACTOR

We judge professionals using a lot of metrics.??That’s rational.??We consider many common things, including hours worked, clients served, sales made, tasks completed, error rates, etc.??

This approach, while necessary, creates a very incomplete picture.??It raises the value of talented prima donnas and hurts the value of differently talented nice people.??

Talented prima donna:??a person who is an exceptional performer as measured by the standard metrics, and who is aggressive at self-promotion and sometimes difficult to be around.??

Differently talented nice person:??someone who does above average work, though possibly not superstar level, and who is also above average at many of the important things not addressed by the standard metrics.

Think about kindness, helpfulness, supportiveness, and empathy.??Think about consistent positivity, the willingness to go the extra mile, an appreciation for the team as much as the self, and many other hugely important intangibles.??

A person who embodies these has the X factor.??

They somehow make others better at their jobs.??They make others feel better about themselves.??They make others feel better about the team.??They make others feel better about what we do.??They are the glue that makes team chemistry happen.??

In contrast, a talented prima donna does great work and usually harms morale (while receiving premium compensation).

Performance evaluations attempt to capture some X factor issues with ratings, but they often seem to be of secondary importance when talent decisions are made.??That’s unfortunate, since research suggests X factors of the variety noted above really explain long-term team and organizational health.

They talk a lot today about talent management and the war for talent.??That is terribly misleading.??The real war is for chemistry.??Who’s in charge of chemistry management???

I really hope it’s one of those X factor people!??

TODD’S TIPS

Ready for a creativity boost???It’s time to mix up your routines.??This is one of the best practical tips for improving creative output…

You are stressed out, very busy, and can’t seem to get enough done at work!??One common reaction to this reality is to double down on routines for the sake of efficiency.??Your morning routine, what you wear, the route to work, the music or news you consume, how you structure your day, the way you answer the phone, lunch behaviors, etc.??Almost all of this is on autopilot!?

When you pick one or two of those things and intentionally mix them up, your brain wakes up.??It moves out of subconscious processing and into conscious processing.??That’s when the likelihood of cool ideas colliding in your brain goes up significantly.??Creativity becomes easier to access.??So, shake up those routines.??Your brain will thank you.??

WHAT’S UP WITH DR. D?

Want to hear a cool story about a man and his ham???https://bit.ly/3qSyfwS.??I delivered this one pre-recorded at an event in Dubai.??Enjoy!

I just got my first standing ovation of the year!??I love to speak, but I certainly don’t get standing ovations every time.??Huge thanks to Don Schmidt and the revenue team from Human Interest out of San Francisco.??I had a blast keynoting their event in Fort Worth last week.

Until next time – stay safe, go learn something, maybe help someone, or at least do something interesting!

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All my links in one place:??https://linktr.ee/drdewett.?

All previous newsletters here:??https://bit.ly/3zbXVqa.