Start With The “A”
Treat every member of your team like they've already earned the A!
Today's article is for managers and business/team leaders.
Here’s what I mean by starting with the A... many of us took part in college courses that had an “earn the A” format. Meaning, you started the course with a 0% (an F, essentially) and it was your job to complete assignments, that earned you points, which led to you earning your eventual final grade (hopefully an A). This “earn the A” format is finding its way into K-12 settings and its having a positive effect.
This method, in high school and college, is very effective in helping students to intentionally learn the value of earning their grades (rather than just maintain them). It instills other values like perseverance, hard work, ownership, self-leadership, etc. All of which are values that every manager or team leader hopes for in their team members.
When recent college graduates get into the workforce they’re often treated this same way. Like they have nothing (0%) and they have to earn their A, only here the “A” is trust, respect, privilege, etc. This is damaging to the culture of an organization that hires young (or new) professionals. It has a reverse effect in the workplace. It causes the “new” or “inexperienced” team members to feel like they’re worthless until they “prove themselves.” This feeling is toxic to a culture.
If you’re a manager and you’re reading this, I challenge you to FLIP. THE. SCRIPT. Start with the A. I’ve seen this “earn the A” format used in the workplace by employers and I’ve witnessed the damage it does to a team culture. The truth is, if you hired someone onto your team (even the ones right out of high school or college) then they matched a description and they stood out in the interview process. You saw the value that they could bring to your team and you saw how their skills, gifts, wiring, and experience (even if limited) could lend themselves to the organization. Maybe you even saw the potential to grow and develop this new team member into a senior leadership role. The fact of the matter is, they have quite a few "A"s that you saw and when they are hired on, they deserve to be treated as so. Trust, respect, & value your team members from day one. Watch how it empowers your team, accelerates the growth of your new team member, and impacts your culture positively. [Disclaimer: you still need to onboard, train, and indoctrinate your new hires and a probationary period may still be necessary to ensure a great fit for the role. But, do not misinterpret this time as an opportunity to lower the value of someone joining your team.]
Managers and leaders, hear me out! Start with the A. With everyone. Give equal respect, equal privilege (appropriate to their role), and equal trust to everyone on your team. Then watch how quickly your new hires get up to speed. The culture of trust will start from day one and that’s a fundamental to a successful culture.
Article Written by: Adam Bieber
