Dating all the way back to my high school days, I’ve always loved to play poker. From house games with friends to live tournaments in Las Vegas, I have enjoyed poker in all types of environments. There was a time that I was studying the game and playing in tournaments at a reasonably high level (I once folded pocket aces in a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament pre-flop, but that is another story for poker players that are interested). Once our son Brock came along there really wasn’t much time for poker, so it is very rare that I’m able to play anymore.
While live poker games have taken a back seat, on a rare occasion my wife Sharon and I are able to sneak away and play video poker together. It’s a relaxing hobby when we are able to get out for a date night or on a trip and play a few hands together (she likes Duces Wild, I prefer Jacks or Better). In my preferred game, it’s five card draw and you have to end up with a pair of jacks or a better hand to get your money back. If you get a better hand like a straight or flush, you get a higher return on your bet. So it’s nice to be dealt a hand that “qualifies” as jacks or better at the beginning, so then when you draw cards you already know you are going to get your initial bet back at least.
On a recent trip without our son, we were able to get out and play some video poker over the course of a couple of days. One particular session it seemed like I was dealt a pair of nines on every hand. Anything less than a pair of jacks makes making any financial progress difficult. If you are constantly drawing cards to a pair of nines, you will lose money relatively quickly, which in this particular instance is exactly what happened. Twenty bucks even only a quarter at a time will go quickly when you are drawing cards to bad hands. For football fans, drawing to a pair of nines consistently is like trying to convert third down and 15 on EVERY drive. Not a very strong probability of success in either case.
This got me to thinking…..
Are we putting our organizations in a position to win the hand they are playing, or are they drawing to a proverbial pair of nines all the time?
Do they have the resources they need? If not, can we get them more so they can compete?
Do they have the experience they should have? If not, are we providing professional development and mentorship opportunities so they can grow?
Do they have the support system behind them that they need to be successful? If not, can we back them up in a more meaningful way than we do now?
Poker is a thinking person’s game, so not surprising that a few bad hands propelled my brain to tie a card game into organizational theory. As leaders, it is our job to put our team in the best position to win. They need to be holding more aces than nines so to speak.
Give your people the resources (aces, kings, queens, and jacks) they need to succeed. Those that fail are often playing with one arm tied behind their backs (see pair of nines). Also, one last thought here…..
High performers that don’t have the support of their leaders often seek other opportunities. Once you get great people on the bus, give them the support they need to stay there. It is way harder to replace a rock star than it is to keep and support one that you already have in house.
Deal your team aces every day in every way. Success will soon follow.
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