Even if you are motivated by the best intentions, tolerating mediocrity by you, the CEO, is one of the most common and devastating practices. Like a bad case of flu, mediocrity in your Executive Team will quickly spread throughout your entire organization. Here are three reasons why:
According to consultant, trainer, former Vistage chair and Vistage speaker Lawrence King, the first step in overcoming mediocrity is for the CEO to make a commitment to stop tolerating it. Next, these steps should be followed to build a high-performing team:
Development Strategies:
Once you have assessed each of your Senior Executives, it is time to identify an appropriate development strategy for each of them. A key role of the CEO is to coach employees so that they can grow. “As the coach you have two primary strategies,” explains King, “recognition and correction.”
Superstars (rated 9 or 10) deserve special recognition. Sit down with them one-to-one as soon as possible and tell them, specifically, what they are doing that makes such a major difference for your company and how much you appreciate it. For example, “When we were about to lose that major contract with a key customer, you went out there and pitched camp and didn’t leave until you got the signature on the contract. That made a major difference for us.” Praise them for both their individual efforts and their team efforts. However, stay away from general feedback, i.e. “You are really a good person.”
All too often, the people who perform well get more work as their reward. That is not necessarily bad, but there also have to be other forms of positive recognition
Let your best performers know that you truly appreciate their efforts, personally as well as professionally. Let them know that their contribution allows you to take some time off without being afraid that the organization is going to fall apart in your absence. Put yourself in their shoes, and realize that when people have earned this type of recognition, they need to receive it.
Good performers (rated 7 or 8) should also receive recognition along with some coaching for specific improvement. Recognize their contributions on a one-to-one basis, just as you would for your Superstars. Let them know, too, what they can do to move up to Superstar status become within your company. Keep in mind that you can never give too much recognition. Although you may know your employees socially, and while they may have been with you for a long time, do not let these relationships get in the way of giving them specific input about what they can do to become an even better performer.
2. Correction for Mediocre Performers.
For Mediocre performer, rated 6 and below, give them a chance to improve, but keep your expectations structured and very clear. Sit down with each of these people and create a written, 90-day plan that states what they must do to improve. Always make sure you are very clear about their goals and objectives. People can’t improve if they don’t know specifically what you expect.
Commit to meeting with each Executive on a weekly basis for a short 5-10 minute “huddle.” Review their plan on a weekly basis and document their progress (or lack thereof) towards their goal. Frequency of feedback is vital.
According to King, if you apply this process diligently, one of three things will happen with your Mediocre Performers:
The Bottom Line
Hire good employees to begin with, then coach them to be even better. Recognize your high performers, help those that can be helped, and free those that can’t. Your company’s success depends on the performance of your Executive Team. Stop procrastinating, and start recognizing and developing!
Further Reading:
HBR Blog, The Coming Collapse of Average Managers and Employees
Bob Prosen’s Blog, Superior Leadership: Hire Smart
Individual Assessment: Here are some ideas on how to evaluate your Executive Team. Feel free to substitute your own criteria.
Rate each of your direct reports on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 means they need fired immediately and 10 is a Superstar) on the following:
Team members: | ||||||
Technical Expertise/Effectiveness in Functional area: | ||||||
Technical expertise is important to business. | ||||||
Holds direct-reports accountable. | ||||||
Develops his/her functional team. | ||||||
Sense of Urgency: | ||||||
Meets deadlines. | ||||||
Effectively prioritizes. | ||||||
Executive Team Player: | ||||||
Understands and communicates the company’s vision and goals. | ||||||
Voluntarily collaborates with other Executives. | ||||||
Contributes new ideas. | ||||||
Takes appropriate risks. | ||||||
Puts company needs ahead of his/her own functional area. | ||||||
Is personally accountable. | ||||||
Communication: | ||||||
Communicates effectively up, across and down the organization. | ||||||
Interpersonal Relationships: | ||||||
People trust him/her. | ||||||
Employees are engaged. | ||||||
Other/Wild Card Factors: | ||||||
AVERAGE SCORE (take this number to the team assessment) |
Team Assessment
Team Member Name | Mediocre6 and under | Developmental7-8 | Superstar9-10 |
Total the score in each column | |||
# of people in this column | |||
Average this column | |||
Overall average (add the column totals in the line above and divide by 3 |
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