A feature in Time Magazine poses a powerful, and perhaps dangerous theory about ambition. The article implies that perhaps some people are just more likely to succeed.

The full article is worth a read, but these two paragraphs are particularly noteworthy:

For these reasons, people and animals who have an appetite for becoming an alpha often settle contentedly into life as a beta. “The desire to be in a high position is universal,” says de Waal. “But that trait has co-evolved with another skill-the skill to make the best of lower positions.”

Humans not only make peace with their beta roles but they also make money from them. Among corporations, an increasingly well-rewarded portion of the workforce is made up of B players, managers and professionals somewhere below the top tier. They don’t do the power lunching and ribbon cutting but instead perform the highly skilled, everyday work of making the company run. As skeptical shareholders look ever more askance at overpaid corporate A-listers, the B players are becoming more highly valued. It’s an adaptation that serves the needs of both the corporation and the culture around it. “Everyone has ambition,” says Lowe. “Societies have to provide alternative ways for people to achieve.”

It’s possible to be productive and satisfied without being at the top. Every team needs a quarterback, certainly, but they also need specialized players in all of the positions. All jobs are important. The question is whether or not the people in those jobs are empowered to the work that job deserves.

At Slaughter Development, we don’t really want to meet owners of companies to talk about productivity and workflow. That might sound counter intuitive, because the usual thought is that organizations become more effective from the top down. In reality, it is the every day, mid-level and front-line employees which have the most impact on efficiency and effectiveness. The people doing the work are the people we want to meet.

If you recognize the opportunity to make improvements at your company or non-profit, consider reaching out to Slaughter Development for a complementary 15-minute Productivity Short Talk during your next staff meeting.  We’d love to support your ambition by speaking to your team on a topic of your choice. Contact us today!

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