How to Build a Culture of A-Players: Insights from “Good to Great”
The Foundation of Success: Your Team and Culture
As Jim Collins highlights in his book Good to Great, a strong, aligned culture isn’t just a "nice-to-have"—it’s a key driver of success and resilience. The core principle? Surround yourself with A-players—those team members who consistently elevate your business through their skills, alignment with values, and commitment to excellence.
Here’s a powerful question to consider: How many of your current team members would you enthusiastically rehire today?
A-players not only thrive but also inspire others to perform at their best. They create an environment where growth and innovation flourish. But how do you identify, measure, and strengthen a culture that attracts and retains these top performers?
Measuring & Strengthening Your Culture
Building a culture of A-players starts with understanding your current culture. Here are three key steps:
Observe Behaviors: Look beyond policies and focus on how team members align with your core values. Policies often exist to manage non-A-players. Instead, ask yourself, "What makes my A-players excel, and how can I replicate those qualities across the team?"
Listen to Your Team: Conduct regular surveys to gauge engagement and alignment. Tools like net promoter scores (NPS) or anonymous feedback platforms provide valuable insights from the people closest to your customers.
Track Key Metrics: Monitor retention rates, employee referrals, and collaboration metrics. Keep in mind that improving your culture might initially lead to turnover as you adjust the team to "get the right people on the bus." A-players thrive when surrounded by other A-players, so don’t be afraid to make tough decisions to strengthen your team.
Engaging Your Team: Best Practices for 2025
Once you’ve assessed your culture, it’s time to actively engage your team. Here are four best practices to implement in the new year:
Communicate Vision: Share your 2025 goals and invite team members to contribute their ideas on how they can support success.
Recognize and Celebrate: Regularly acknowledge individual and team achievements. Celebrate progress, not just results.
Foster Connection: Create opportunities for collaboration through team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, or informal discussions.
Act on Feedback: When team members provide input, follow through. Showing that their voices matter builds trust and loyalty.
Kick Off 2025 with Confidence
Your people are your greatest asset, and the culture you build determines their ability to succeed. Make 2025 the year of A-players and great results.
Let’s work together to align your culture, strategy, and goals for the year ahead. Schedule your 2025 Kick-Off Call today!
Schedule a call now
Here’s to making 2025 your best year yet!
Cheers,
Merin Coutts