Pearls from the August 2020 Issue of Optometric Management - E5
Review of ‘MOVE THE MIDDLE’ by April Jasper, OD, FAAO
This article spoke to me. I have been really trying to focus on my staff and getting the most out of them. In the articles she cites Steven Covey’s bell curve analysis of your staff. Essentially the belief is your staff can be split up as 20% of below average performers - 60% average performers - 20% above average performers. The goal is to take that middle 60% and move them towards the top 20%. It makes sense, but it sounds easier than actually doing it in practice.
The tips she gave were to seek out the top 20%. Learn their methods and the nuanced tactics they use to perform at such a high level, and get them to teach the rest how to be better. This is where she lost me. 1. let your stars be stars. Although we may think they will be flattered to teach someone else how to be better, we are competitive and insecure beings at times. Their top performance is job security in their minds. If everyone can do what they do, they become expendable. 2. We dont ask our thoroughbred race horses to pull the plow. Let them do what they do and continue to do it well. Also, just because you can do it, does not mean you can teach it. Think Michael Scott trying to explain his management style in the office. No, I like the “seek out the top performers” and “learn from them” parts, but save the teaching for your manager or yourself.
All in all, I like the idea of getting more out of the majority of my staff.
LEADING OFF: CEO Challenge: Fail at Something by Steve Vargo, OD, MBA
This is the classic shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you will land amongst the stars theory. Vargo wants us to get outside of the known and comfortable worlds we live in and set BIG goals. Goals so big that they are surely to fall short. This my friends is how we grow and what a CEO needs to do to keep evolving. 2 things can happen, we fail and we learn, thus making us better or we actually hit a home run and do what we thought impossible. Regardless, I like the mentality and I am ready to fail (or not)!
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