Published at:
Major League Baseball’s all-star game was recently played, so I thought it was a good time to look at what it takes to be an “all-star” in the non-profit world. After all, all-stars are the folks who are the most sought after team members; they’re always contributing to make their team (or work place) more successful and, therefore, these are the stars which every employer is looking for.
Be a “Five-tool Player”
In baseball, the most valuable position all-stars are what are called “five-tool players.” These are athletes who excel at hitting for average, hitting for power, base running, throwing ability, and fielding abilities; that is, they do it all. They also get the biggest contracts and are attracted by winning teams. What’s a five-tool player in the non-profit world? Let’s look at what it takes:
1. Consistently Exceed Expectations On Projects
All-stars are the most reliable players on the field; they not only handle the routine plays, but can be counted on to do more than the average player. In the workplace, that means that the first order of business is to gain a reputation as someone who always exceeds the minimum expectations. Certainly that includes always meeting deadlines (and maybe even submitting projects early). It also means adding extra value to projects assigned – this could take the form of delivering more than expected (adding some analysis or graphs to that report; spending time to make it look better than the typical report; etc.).
2. Gain a Reputation as a Team Player
All-stars are concerned about more than just their personal performance or stats; they are looking at how they can help the entire team so everyone wins. An all-star or two certainly helps any organization, but rarely is it enough to guarantee success. Use your unique talents to find ways to help your team be more successful. Are you an Excel expert? Then it may be helping others with their spreadsheets. Have you gained some experience in an area that there are now less experienced workers? Give them some tips to accelerate their learning curve. Also, when you have the availability, everyone appreciates the all-star who can be counted on to help at an event or fundraiser.
3. Grow Professionally
An all-star doesn’t stay an all-star for long if they’re not getting better. Not even superstars can stand on their laurels. By the same token, be looking for opportunities to expand your skill set, to cross-train into other areas that will increase your value to the team or to gain experience in areas that are important to your organization. An all-star builds a reputation that they’re always looking for opportunities to take the next training and learn new skills—to grow professionally.
4. Be a Thought Leader
In baseball when a team is struggling, all-stars will often help managers figure out how to get back to their winning ways. They have the knowledge and have gained the respect of management, so their opinions matter. You can reinforce your all-star value to your team by being a thought leader with your supervisors and managers. This can be done informally—when you see something that isn’t right, or even is just a bit out of whack, share how it can be corrected. This is different from just pointing out flaws—this is helping with ideas for solutions. Everybody likes a problem solver.
5. Dig in for the Long Term
It’s a rare situation when an all-star is identified in their rookie season. Typically they need to show some consistent performance over time to make an impression. Realize on your team that you may be thinking you’re operating at an all-star level, but it may take time for your team’s leaders to recognize it. Don’t get frustrated, but dig in for the long term. Consistently performing at high levels builds that all-star reputation that’s going to help you “hit it out of the park” in your career!
