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The True Cost of "B" Players
Steve Jobs famously said “A” players are twice as valuable as “B” players. He went on to indicate that the ratio was 25:1 for software developers. Regardless of the occupation, this reality presents an incredible opportunity for most organizations. With people in such high demand, it is tempting to settle for “B” players. It is tempting to play with the team you have regardless of current performance reality.
There are two types “B” players: those that can improve to become “A” players and those that have reached their maximum contribution to the organization. Those capable of improving need the most attention from leadership. However, both are costly to most organizations.
Every “B” occupies a seat that could be occupied by an “A” player. “B” players may:
- Harm the reputation of your company when interacting with customers, vendors and others.
- Damage employee morale by requiring more work from better employees.
- Require more time from management and supervision to get the same amount of work done.
- Are more likely to quit causing more time training new replacements.
“B” players do the most harm by not contributing to the unknown potential in any organization. In other words, the next big idea or solution to major problems will not likely come from this population. When working with leaders at all levels, it is important to understand that every employee contributes a certain amount of both tangible and intangible value. Calculating productivity is easier than determining extra effort. The intangibles associated with
top performers are the best indicator for excellence. In other words, the smallest amounts of “a little more” don’t seem to be linear when moving beyond average. The difference between average and excellence has a far greater multiple for impact on total performance. Think about it this way, the impact on water between 210 degrees Fahrenheit and 211 degrees Fahrenheit is much less than the impact on water between 211 degrees and 212 degrees.
Attaining the level of maximum impact on the organization will not occur without more “A” players. This becomes more pronounced as the influence on the organization becomes larger. Hiring managers often consider the impact for mediocrity to be neutral. When it reality the impact isnegative. In a fully employed society (unemployment below 4.5%), it is tempting to settle for mediocre people. Accepting a warm body may seem better than not having an employee at all. This is doom loop thinking. Once you settle it become easier and easier to settle. Over time, current reality bias makes people settle for mediocrity as the new normal. People can become blind to the potential in an organization. At what point is mediocre cleanliness
acceptableina restaurant? When are mediocre safety practices acceptable for an airline? Read More...
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