I love that saying on several levels.  Nothing frustrates me more as a manager than the employee who builds a wall of secrecy around his area of responsibility.  You know the type.  They build an ever increasing list of things that only they can do.  They guard the processes and procedures with their lives in a misguided belief that their job is secure if only they know how to do something.  In effect they’re trying to create job security by holding you hostage.

Nothing makes me madder than that.  Not only do they take me for a fool (thinking they can hold me hostage,) they foster an ever increasing cloud of bitterness each time they are passed over for a promotion.  And, of course, they are passed over.  How could they be promoted if there’s nobody who can take their current job!?!?  And more than that, why would I ever promote somebody who’s going to hold me hostage for heaven’s sake?

To solve the problem, when somebody starts to hold me hostage, I let them go.  Life is too short to play games with people.  I want people who will tell you what they think, give you an honest day’s work for and honest day’s pay, buy into being part of the team and part of the organization, and contribute something to the overall good.  There is no place on my team for manipulators, liars, those who sow the seeds of hate and discontent, or anything like unto it.

I can’t imagine how those businesses ever get anything done.  So much of their time is spent on petty BS they don’t have time or energy to move the business forward.  There are people out there who would love to show you what they can do.  All you have to do is recognize them and reward them, and they will give you all they have.  They’ll do it without complaining, dragging everyone else down, or playing little games.   Don’t waste your time on superstars who think the world owes them something special.  Teams with above average players will beat a team with a couple of superstars every time.

Look for people who are good at what they do, fit well into the team, work hard when you need them, and then reward them handsomely for what they do.  That is the key to building a team.  Get rid of the dead weight and do it today.  The biggest sigh of relief you will ever utter is the day you unload the useless baggage you’ve been carrying.  Once you actually do it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.