After the Great Recession, Shark Tank showed a whole generation of people to entrepreneurship as a realistic career path.
But it’s also got a big problem.
That problem: real business looks nothing like Shark Tank.
People don’t do multimillion-dollar deals after a ten-minute pitch between commercials.
In fact, business done well is the opposite of reality TV. It’s a lot of small decisions and conversations and thinking and spreadsheets.
TV looks for (and manufactures) dramatic moments. Big cliffhangers, personality clashes, huge tension.
But if you’re seeing a lot of that in your organization, you have a problem.
And deep down, every business problem is a people problem.
If it’s the same person involved in every single drama (and it usually is), they’re probably the wrong person.
But sometimes, it’s the right person in the wrong seat.
How I figure it out, below.
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The GWD framework
Big dramatic problems are always a red flag.
But sometimes people are just underdelivering. Before you decide it’s a them problem, check whether it’s a seat problem.
Ask yourself:
Do they get it? (Is their brain wired right for the work?)
Do they want it? (Or are they just collecting a paycheck?)
Can they do it? (Do they have the time, the skill, and the emotional capacity?)
If any of these are a no, maybe they’re in the wrong seat at your business. Imagine the “ideal” spot for them, even if it doesn’t exist on your org chart today. Find a way to try that out.
Sometimes you’ve got A-players stuck in B-player roles. Seating is something only you can fix.
This comes from the book Traction - for $12, you get a hands-on guide on how to build a business, solve problems, set goals, everything.
It’s not perfect, but it’s one of my top recommendations for any entrepreneur.
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Thanks for reading,
Michael
P.S. How are you liking the newsletter these days. Is it fun? Helpful? Hit reply, I’d love to hear from you.
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