Want to Make Alignment Easier? Staff with Eagles

While writing Chess Not Checkers, it became clear early in the process to create the type of organization that could win consistently, it would be critical for people to Act as One. However, a new insight surfaced along the way – It is much easier to align the “right people.” This simple observation, witnessed time and time again, compelled us to add Staff with Eagles as one of the best practices of High Performance Organizations.

 Randy Gravitt and I wrote about the importance of Staffing with Eagles in the Chess Not Checkers Field Guide. The following is from that section in the guide.

When it comes to a person’s character, there is an old saying: “You can’t expect to soar with the eagles in the daytime, if you fly with the buzzards at night.” The same might be said for staffing. You can’t select buzzards and expect to build a high-flying organization. The people you surround yourself with will determine the quality and direction of your organization as well as your level of effectiveness. If you hope to create a High Performance Organization, you better make sure you attract great talent.

“Talent matters.” Every coach will tell you, “Winning is not as much about the X’s and O’s as it is the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.” You can have the best plan in the world, and even communicate it in a compelling way, yet still not reach high performance. The determining factor will always be your level of talent. Winners are never satisfied with being good. They continually look to distance themselves from the competition, understanding that the team with the best talent has the best chance of winning.

One of the best practices for High Performance Organizations is to Staff with Eagles. They recruit aggressively with a focus on attracting the brightest and best. They set high standards and seek to raise performance at all levels. And when someone is no longer a cultural fit, they courageously make hard decisions and remove him or her from the team. Can the same be said for you?

What do you look for when there is an empty seat in your organization? Are you constantly on the lookout for winners? Is your team stronger than it was a year ago? Do you have people that can take you to the next level, or if a gap exists, are you willing to make a difficult decision?

If you intend to be a High Performance Organization, recruit the best, select the best, retain the best, and accept no less … Staff with Eagles.

How much time and energy do you invest in finding the right people to join  your organization?

for more information visit: http://greatleadersserve.com