A-Players have a lot of things in common, most of all a consistent record of achievement. They also have some common competencies such as incredible drive, and resourcefulness. We all know these things. However, articles and books that discuss how A Players communicate, tends to focus on leadership communication– listening, consultative decision making, etc. This blog deals with how they communicate all-day, everyday. As founder and CEO of Tograding™, Inc. I’ve consulted with a lot of A-Players on how they communicate, and this is what I’ve found: A Players get to the point…and they expect everyone else to as well. They really do. When asked (or are asked) for the time, they do not beat around the bush or explain how to build a watch, they simply say the time and then make their case. This blog does exactly that; the title states the “bottom line.” For example, in a meeting like an operations review, if a CEO asks an executive a question and if the executive doesn’t answer immediately, the CEO will interrupt and require an answer. A blunt old style leader might demand, “Pat, answer the damn question”. Whereas the leader with strong Emotional Intelligence might say, “Pat, excuse me for interrupting, but please tell me, did you check with the General Counsel before taking that action?”. I put friggin’ in the title not to be crude, but to convey how important it is. In Topgrading ™ Interviews where I am the main interviewer, and the hiring executive is my tandem partner (the best way to avoid a mis-hire), and if we have to nudge a candidate more than a couple of times to get to the point, that hiring manager rejects the candidate. What have you experienced? Do A Players both get to the point and require others to do so? If you coach people on your team do you coach them to get to the point? To learn more about the Topgrading method download our FREE eGuide!
