Funny. I was writing something along the same lines but Daniel does a much better job of wording it. The essence is spot on, it's the organization that makes people excel or fail.
Dysfunctional organizations happen much more frequently than dysfunctional people do.
Once upon a time I was a 'B' player too (after starting out as an 'A' one I quickly got demotivated to the point where I didn't want to go to work at all, this was at a big bank). I'm happy they didn't take Daniel out back and shot him.
A good company will mentor and will teach as well as empower, maximizing the contribution its employees make by rewarding their input and by respecting them as human beings first and employees second. That's a very hard trick but the most successful companies know how to do this well.
And it's that part - the corporate culture - that is the hardest to shape and nurture. Lose it and you've lost your momentum, if not your future.
I think this is the point that's really missing; that it isn't just the person and the environment need to match, as though the environment is some immutable thing. As a manager, you have to notice when your "A" players are falling and change things if necessary. You can change the environment to make more "A" players out of your team. Though, sadly, more often management winds up making "B" players out of "A" players. Or making ex-employees out of them.
By the way, there is a counter-argument. The true "A" players are go-getters who bring about organizational change, who seek out challenges in an unchallenging environment, etc. The "B" players aren't demotivated by bad management, a hostile environment, lack of freedom or respect - they're people who are just naturally unmotivated, lazy, etc.
I hate that argument, of course. It suggests motivation and productivity is just some innate, immutable trait. And ultimately, it exists to excuse managerial failings.
> The "B" players aren't demotivated by bad management, a hostile environment, lack of freedom or respect - they're people who are just naturally unmotivated, lazy, etc.
I strongly disagree with that. In the wrong environment I could definitely be a 'B' player, in the right environment I'm unstoppable.
Dysfunctional organizations happen much more frequently than dysfunctional people do.
Once upon a time I was a 'B' player too (after starting out as an 'A' one I quickly got demotivated to the point where I didn't want to go to work at all, this was at a big bank). I'm happy they didn't take Daniel out back and shot him.
A good company will mentor and will teach as well as empower, maximizing the contribution its employees make by rewarding their input and by respecting them as human beings first and employees second. That's a very hard trick but the most successful companies know how to do this well.
And it's that part - the corporate culture - that is the hardest to shape and nurture. Lose it and you've lost your momentum, if not your future.