Great teams start with "A Players."

Are you looking to build a great team? Start with recruiting “A” players. How do you do that?

An “A Player” is the kind of person you’re glad you hired, who is a perfect fit for you and your organization. These people need three key ingredients to be A Players.

“A Players”

Character. Does this person share your values? To ensure they do, hire or recruit someone you’re sure already has your values.

Competence. Consider all the things you need from your team members. Does this new person have the skills, experience, and temperament to accomplish the goals of your team or organization?

Chemistry. Does this person fit into your culture? They might be skilled and have character, but if they don’t have a great connection, they don’t have chemistry.

Rate Future Hires or Recruitments on These Three C’s

Set a baseline. What are you satisfied with? What’s the lowest score you’ll accept for the three C’s, or the lowest composite score?

Build a culture for A Players. Get the right people on the bus by building a culture for the right kind of people, but you might also need to get some of the wrong people off the bus.

Great teams start with great team members. Consider the Three C’s of character, competence, and chemistry as you examine your current team and look to hire and recruit new team members.

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Key Points:

  • An “A Player” is the kind of person you’re glad you hired, who is a perfect fit for you and your organization. These people need three key ingredients to be A Players.
    • Character. Does this person share your values?
    • Competence. Does this new person have the skills, experience, and temperament to accomplish the goals of your team or organization?
    • Chemistry. Does this person fit into your culture?
  • Build a culture for A Players. Get the right people on the bus by building a culture for the right kind of people. And be willing to get the wrong people “off the bus.”

Quote This:

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. -Henry Ford

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Do you agree with the “Three C’s?” Why or why not?
  3. What are the two stronger aspects of the C’s that are currently being used in your team or organization? Which of these C’s are lacking? Why?
  4. What are your baselines for these C’s individually? As a composite? Why?
  5. Do you agree that to succeed, you need to get the right people “on the bus” and the wrong people “off?” Explain.
  6. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.