Who are the most valuable people in your organisation? asks Eric McNulty in a recent article (read it here). Many people would suggest it is someone in the C-Suite, based on remuneration, or maybe it’s the high potential individuals (“hi-pos”) due to their importance to the company’s future. McNulty brushes these and others aside and instead draws from the example of nature.
McNulty explains, “Scientists have identified certain species whose behaviours help satisfy the needs of other species, and so hold an outsized value for the well-being of the overall community. Scientists call these valuable organisms keystone species. Examples include the purple sea star in tide pools, wolves in Yellowstone National Park and Elephants in the African savannah.
Keystone people within an organisation are not found in the pay rates or titles, but in the relationships between stakeholders. The people who foster these relationships are your most valuable workers, asserts McNulty, because (in his words), “they embrace the organizations mission and know they can’t expect to fulfil it alone. So they work to equip and inspire more people to move the mission forward. They spot the potential contributions others can make – and encourage them to do so.”
McNulty’s article is brief but packed with some great tips on finding and supporting the keystone people in your organisation, because they are the key to your organisation thriving.
The Avondale Business School (ABS) can help your organisation thrive. To find out how, contact Dr Warrick Long at [email protected].