"Want To"

In Semi-Tough by the legendary sportswriter Dan Jenkins, one player asks another why the opposing team’s running back plays so well every game. “Wants to” is his response.

Managers succeed when the right people are in the right jobs. That entails an assessment of their talent and experience.

Unfortunately, skills and knowledge alone don’t drive success. Like the aforementioned running back, the candidate for a given position has to want to excel in the role.

Not everyone seeks more responsibility. Some are content where they are.

To get great execution, managers have to be adept at assessing someone’s “want to.”

– Kip Caffey, Cary Street Partners