Have you heard the saying: ‘People join companies, but they leave managers’? Maybe you’ve witnessed this and have seen A players leave your company. The most powerful vision will remain unachievable without great managers leading the way.
It’s certainly important to have visionary leaders in our organizations, but great managers determine whether our businesses will SCALE UP. And really when we use the term managers, we should be thinking of this role more as a coach.
What can we do to ensure our managers/coaches are playing the part?
Start with these five practices, which originate from Scaling Up by Verne Harnish. They will insure you retain your A Players.
Help people play to their strengths
This isn’t just something they’re good at, but instead, something that gives them energy (or strength). Yes, there will always be parts of a job they don’t enjoy, but make sure most of the job plays to their strengths and doesn’t drain them. Patrick Lencioni’s Working Genius model will help you identify each person’s geniuses.
Don’t demotivate, dehassle
Focus on ways to make your team’s jobs easier and rather than directing your attention on motivating, eliminate situations that demotivate. Think: When an A player has to work with C players, there’s wasted time spent on behavior and performance issues. Eliminate this situation by only hiring A players in the first place.
Set clear expectations and give employees clear line of sight
Explain how their work connects to the overall priorities of the company. This provides purpose and clarity within their daily activities, ultimately resulting in a more engaged team.
Give recognition and show appreciation
Managers must provide criticism if they see something wrong, but make sure the positive interactions/praise outweigh the negative at ratio of 3:1. Cater your feedback based on the individual by either asking how they like to receive recognition or observing what works best over time.
Hire fewer people but pay them more
This has proven to be effective for many of the most successful businesses. One great person can replace three good ones, so pay them accordingly. You will lower your total wage cost as a % of revenue and experience tremendous benefits to productivity.
Seems manageable, right?
Weave these 5 pivotal practices into all levels of management and start practicing them yourself…TODAY. Soon you’ll forge a new path and be on your way to SCALE UP! A Players will join your company, but they’ll STAY for the managers.