Building Bench Strength

How is your bench strength? When your key performers are sidelined, do you have others following in their steps that can step in and “carry the ball” in your key performers’ absence? Everyone has key performers, but the long-term winners focus on the next level to ensure success now and in the future.

Some call it succession planning, but whatever you call it, the future depends on that strength to continue your success. This thought process is not only needed at leadership positions. It is needed at all levels of the organization. Look back 10 or 20 years. Where were your current leaders then? Many great leaders of organizations have come from their ranks.

How then do you build bench strength? I believe the organizations with the best approach are sports teams. They recognize today’s stars won’t last forever, so they have people focused on the next “generation”. Sports teams have talent scouts at multiple levels; High School, College, Semi-Pro and other Pro organizations.

In a business I call this process an Employee Development Road Map. This Road Map, along with your long-term business forecast, will tell you where to focus on building your bench. Many companies will say they don’t want to build into people that might leave in a few years. I say if you don’t build into the rising stars, they will eventually leave for an organization that will.

The owner of a company I worked for told me, “I would rather have highly talented alumni than employees that are not very talented. You can never have too many great employees. If they do move on, the time they spent with us brought a good return. I wouldn’t have it any other way”.

Our job is to build an internal system that is focused on allowing our employees to use their natural strengths in all areas of our business. Just imagine if every employee was doing what they naturally loved doing. Think of the conversations they would have with friends and family about what a great work environment they work in. Your employees are potentially the best recruiters you will ever have. Teach them what you are looking for and watch the candidates show up.

I know this works. I have been involved with organizations that used this technique and thrived with it. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to build your bench, just make sure the “next generation” is in process and aware of their part in your future.