This Is What Happens When You Play Favorites

Your organization needs lots of excellent players. It might look like there are too few of them because you always see the same faces at the head of the pack. Some people are are quick to establish themselves as folks you can count on. These are the people who volunteer for tough assignments, bring you information about what’s going on in the trenches, and step up when the going gets tough.

It’s only natural to appreciate these helpful actions and the people behind them, and to inadvertently bestow upon them a “Halo of special-ness:”

• You give Haloed team members a pass on mistakes.
• You bend over backwards with bonuses, pay increases and special benefits in the name of trying to keep “our best people.”
• You turn a Haloed team member into a confidante with special access to you, encouraging you to unwisely share information best kept private.

And here’s what happens when you do:

• You isolate the Haloeds and expose them to snarky recriminations from team members, envious of their special status.
• You cause justified criticism of the Haloeds to go underground, depriving them of learning opportunities they’d otherwise get.
• You discourage the rest of your organization (the non-Haloeds) and deprive the company of the benefits of their creativity and best efforts.
• You make the non-Haloeds feel they have no future with the organization and encourage them to look for opportunities elsewhere.

You can’t afford to alienate the many by giving preferential treatment to the few.

Here are some steps you can take to keep a strong level of engagement throughout your entire organization:

• Resist temptation to play favorites.
• Give potential Haloeds opportunities to encourage, teach and draw out the non-Haloeds.
• Change up your selections for key assignments: Give Haloeds opportunities to be followers; see whether others are willing to lead.

It’s ok to appreciate and recognize the folks who are quick to step up with the kind of help that’s needed at the time you need it most. But it’s important to realize that others can be every bit as helpful and give them the chance.