Personally, I get tired of superstars. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been one and I’m a little jealous. Or maybe because their phenomenal success seems so unattainable. I choose to believe it’s because of what I’ve learned as an experienced manager and an organizational coach – they tend to be a little high maintenance. They start believing their own press and pretty soon they want more money, a better office, special perks – and after all that, shazam! They get a better offer and they’re outta there!

I really like team players. I admire the talented individual who recognizes the power of the collective we – the top performer who applies their expertise and skill to helping the company, the group, the project succeed. I especially admire those who have achieved a senior level in the organization and recognize they couldn’t have done it alone and maintain their sense of balance and humility.

When my sons played youth basketball, they had a coach that stressed assists over points. Following every game, he would acknowledge the points that were scored, but he would spend more time praising those who assisted in making the points. The message was clear – you may have put the ball through the hoop, but two or three other guys were responsible for getting the ball to you. Every step was as important as the previous one. Even Michael Jordan had to learn this lesson when University of North Carolina men’s basketball coach Dean Smith told him, “Michael, if you can’t pass, you can’t play!” Imagine how MJ’s career would have been hampered had he not learned the valuable lesson that, talented as he was, he was a member of a TEAM!

EXTREME managers learn how to extract the very best from each and every person on their team – from every person they lead. In doing so, they encourage top performance and stand a better chance of achieving success. Look at the people you have working for you – have you been focusing on your superstars to the exclusion of others? Are you inadvertently creating little prima donnas that suck the inititaive out of the rest of your folks? If so, go back to basics – encourage the assists!