The Right People
Image taken from Unsplash.com - by Jimmy Conover.

The Right People

"If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus, then we'll figure out how to take it some place great." - Jim Collins, "Good to Great".

Such a simple yet powerful concept! I wish I knew this a couple of decades ago when I was starting out in my career and had my first experience of leading people. They say hindsight is 20-20 and looking back it certainly is.

The wasted effort and time pursuing the misguided belief that you could miraculously change those who had no desire or ability to be on your bus. The consequence of these erroneous beliefs was watching mediocrity creep in, bureaucracy sprout and talent head for the door. Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of time and effort to determine whether someone should not be on your bus.

"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali.

In his book "Good to Great" Jim Collins articulates this concept splendidly and how it is the foundation of a great organisation. You can figure out your destination and even change it along the way, but you first have to get the right people on your bus.

Image taken from

I have always said that if I have to micromanage someone, whether checking their work or checking up on them, then they are the wrong person. If you find yourself micromanaging someone then it sort of defeats the whole purpose of having them. You are already effectively doing their work.

A prickly thorn for me has always been the opportunity cost. When someone is not pulling their weight, the team then has to step in and pick up the slack. In doing so, resources that could have been put to better use are redirected. How can you expect to cross that threshold to great performance when resources are constantly sapped? How can you move into that much coveted space of being proactive and strategic, when you are constantly putting out fires?

Image taken from

And then bureaucracy sets it, trying to regulate the few wrong people on your bus. I have seen a fair share of bureaucracy in my time, where absurdity prevails, innovation is stifled, and drive is extinguished. So how do we avoid that bureaucratic path and nurture that much coveted creativity and peak performance? We fix the foundation first.

Image taken from

The same applies to our personal lives, if we were to draw a parallel. If you surround yourself with mediocrity, then mediocre you will remain.

Great perspective and so true. I guess the same in revers for the right people that are on the wrong bus.

Elsje Rossouw

Helio Auditor & Support

1y

Really enjoyed this one Dmitri, thank you

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