It is true to say that most businesses only have one or two of what are known as ‘a-players’. The remaining people are likely to fall into the category of B- or C- players. And unfortunately, this can hold a business back in its future development.
As such, it is imperative to create an environment not only to attract a-players, but to also allow them to thrive. In this post, we outline reasons of how you can achieve this within your organisation.
In this article, Angelina Bell, a business coach who offers business advice to a range of businesses, discussed ways in which you can only attract the ‘a-players’ to your business.
An interview provides the ideal opportunity to get to know someone. The best way to begin the process is by speaking to the potential candidate over the phone. This gives you as an employer the chance to ask pertinent questions such as where they previously worked, their education, and where they are located.
If you feel that the candidate performs well in this, it is then advisable for them to take a personality test. This allows you to check whether they confirm to the personal traits demanded by the role.
Then, if they successfully pass through this, it is advisable to invite them for a face to face interview. Obviously at this stage, you will have a strong sense of what types of questions you would like to ask. So make sure you are prepared and be thorough enough to ask everything relevant that you would like to explore.
Improve your own performance by educating yourself using resources such as leadership books. Identify top performers in your team and equip them with the tools they need to improve even further. Whether this is an online course, blog or perhaps even a conference.
Mike Michalowicz is the author of the book ‘The Pumpkin Plan: A simple strategy to grow a remarkable business in any field’. The book discusses the main difference between colossal and regular pumpkins. Specifically, that colossal pumpkin farmers only spend their attention on the strongest of pumpkins. Making sure that the average ones surrounding it don’t take away the nutrients required to make it better.
In this scenario, colossal pumpkins are that of the ‘a-players’.
Many employers make the mistake of trying to invest time and effort into the ‘c-players’. As they are keen to bring these people on. However, this is not the best approach. It can lead to the best members of your team becoming neglected. Remember that your ‘a-players’ show most potential. They are more likely able to quickly develop their skill set and have a larger impact on the organisation overall.
Make your staff feel proud to work for your business. Although this approach may be a little unorthodox, it can be very effective. After all, if you treat your employees well, they are more likely to pass this down to the customer.
As such, try and discover what makes your ‘a-players’ tick. Because when you treat these individuals well, they will deliver results each and every time. So ultimately, make sure that your business environment is one that attracts ‘a-players’ to your business. And has the tools and resources that can help them grow.
