The Weakest Link
In the 2024 season, the Kansas City Chiefs had a difficult time winning with ease. Yes, the wins were still happening—but often by the hair on their chinny, chin, chin. So what was the problem?
Mahomes and Kelce were still playing well. They had talented receivers and capable running backs. The challenge was clearly the left tackle on the offensive line. They were good, but not great.
This reminds me: on every team, there will always be a weakest link. However, whether that link has a dramatic impact on performance is a question worth asking.
In the case of the Chiefs, the weakest link was definitely the factor that affected their performance. What about your team? How impactful is the weakest link in your organization?
Midyear is a great time to assess talent in the office. Some call it Operational Staff Planning (O.S.P.). Now is the time to either invest in your team or, when crucial to company success, ask a “weak link” employee to find a better fit elsewhere.
This doesn’t always mean termination. Sometimes, it means identifying a more appropriate role within the company that better aligns with their skills. In other cases, the employee can be coached into excellence.
Coach Reid of the Chiefs has certainly attempted this. At times, he’s chosen to develop players; at other times, he’s chosen to replace them. The jury’s still out on whether he’s found the perfect solution. Only the 2025 season will tell.
These are not easy decisions. They take leadership. And often, that leadership means making decisions that 1) negatively affect people you care about, 2) will be unpopular, and 3) may be misunderstood. Still, they are crucial to organizational success.
As you revisit your strategic plan for 2025, here are some questions to consider:
How would an O.S.P. for the second half of the year help you move the team forward?
Before benching or replacing a good employee, what would it look like to coach them into greatness?
What would it mean to invest in your current team by offering executive coaching to help them level up?
