Why A-Players get fired?
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're an "A" player, but it feels like it's not making a difference?
Situation
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're an "A" player, but it feels like it's not making a difference?
I know I have.
I remember a few years ago, I was working at a big corporate firm, and I was killing it. I was always the first one in and the last one out, I was taking on extra projects, and I was consistently exceeding my targets.
But despite my hard work, I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere.
In fact, it felt like the harder I worked, the more invisible I became. My ideas were being overlooked, my promotions were being passed over, and I was constantly being asked to do "mindless" or "mundane" tasks, for example, creating an inventory of all Agile Teams.
That was unbelievably frustrating.
Problem
It was then that I realized that being an A-player doesn't always mean that you're going to be successful. You see, the problem was that the company I was working for was a "C" player.
They weren't really interested in high performance.
They weren't really interested in investing in their employees, and
They weren't really interested in pushing themselves to be the best.
And because of that, my A-player mentality was actually a liability.
But it wasn't just the company that was the problem,
It was also my BOSS.
He was a C player, and he was terrified that I was going to take over his job someday. He didn't like having me as a colleague because he was afraid that I was going to,
show him up,
expose him, or
through performance disparity, reveal his actual capability level
As a result, he was always trying to hold me back, keep me in my place, and make me miserable.
And when it was time for a re-org.
I was laid off.
Realization
It's a sad reality but, as the quote from Robert Kiyosaki's book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" goes:
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.”
I realized it was time for me to find a company and boss where my A-player mentality would be an asset, not a liability.
Solution
It's important to understand that A-players thrive in corporate cultures that value high performance. Generally speaking, these are firms:
that are themselves, high performers,
where the CEO is a high performer, and
s/he has hired high performers
These companies are:
often driven by a culture of excellence, where everyone is expected to be the best they can be.
they also tend to have a clear vision and mission, and
they're willing to invest in their employees to help them reach their full potential.
As Tony Robbins said in "Awaken the Giant Within":
“It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.”
On the other hand, when a company is lagging behind in its industry (a "C" player), A-players may not be as welcome. These companies:
tend to have a more laid-back culture, where mediocrity is accepted and encouraged.
They may not have a clear vision or mission and
may be unwilling to invest in their employees.
In these environments, A-players can often feel frustrated and unfulfilled, and they may even start to question whether they're in the right place.
How do C-players thrive?
C-players tend to hire D-players so they'll never feel threatened. When a C-player leads a team of D-players, he can rest comfortably knowing that, on a relative basis, he is more talented than his team.
Summary
So, how can you recognize when you're working for a company or boss that's not a good fit for an A- player? Here are a few signs to look out for:
Your company or boss doesn't have a clear vision or mission.
Your company or boss isn't willing to invest in its employees.
You feel frustrated and unfulfilled in your job.
Your boss seems threatened by your success.
You're constantly asked to do "mindless" or "mundane" tasks.
You're not being given the opportunity to take on more challenging or meaningful work.
Your boss is always trying to "hold you back" or "keep you in your place."
If you're experiencing any of these signs, it may be time to start looking for a new job or a new boss. However, before you make any drastic moves, it's important to remember that not every company or boss will be a good fit for every person. Just because you're an A-player doesn't mean that every company or boss will value your talents and abilities.
Conclusion
That being said, it's important to remember that being an A-player is still generally considered a positive thing in the workplace. It's only when you're working for a company or boss that doesn't value high performance that being an A-player can be problematic.
So, my advice would be to
Always strive to work for a company and boss that values high performance and invest in your growth,
Surround yourself with people who will push you to be better, and
Have a clear picture of what you want to achieve
Keep pushing, keep striving, and you'll find yourself in a place where your A-player mentality is genuinely valued.
📌 Things I loved this Week
1 - Podcast - I really enjoyed this episode of the Tim Ferriss show, where he interviews Bob Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company for more than 15 years. Honestly, the phrase that came to mind as I listened was, “wow, this is delightful.”
2 - Article - The Building Blocks of Motivation, by Piers Steel and Justin M Weinhardt. An in-depth look at what motivates us and why we procrastinate. They sum up their ‘theory of motivation with this equation:
Motivation = (Expectancy x Value) / (1+ Impulsivness x Delay)
✍️ Quote of the Week
“THE SECRETS TO LIFE ARE HIDDEN BEHIND THE WORD ‘CLICHÉ.’”
Shay recalled being on a specific bike ride during his rapid weight-loss period: “I remember exactly where I was. I thought to myself, ‘The secrets to life are hidden behind the word “cliché.”’ So any time you hear something that you think is a cliché, my tip to you is to perk your ears up and listen more carefully.”
From Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
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