90 Second Leadership – Hungry Hippos: High Potential People
I love games because they illustrate life, and they illustrate a lot of leadership principles. Let’s talk about Hungry Hippos.
Hungry hippos are high performing, high potential people in your church or organization. In the business world, a lot of time, effort, and energy is spent trying to figure out who these people are. So here are four ways to identify hungry, hungry hippos.
First, does the person fit? If they don’t fit, then it’s not worth having the conversation. You want them to fit your culture and values. Do you have the same passion as they do? Does it align with your organization?
Next, consider the person’s aptitude. What skills and abilities do they bring to the table today? But also consider what is their ability to learn? When you give them a new challenge, do they adapt and rise to the occasion and learn how to get it done?
Third, look at whether or not this person has aspirations. Do they aspire for responsibility, not just for a role? Are they willing to pick up a towel before reaching up for a title?
Lastly, look at the person’s engagement. Are they committed to your church or organization in the short-term and the long-term? Are they committed to the day-to-day details and the nitty gritty of getting the work done as part of your team? If other team members drop responsibilities, are they willing to pick it up and move the ball forward?
If you see these four characteristics in someone, then you know you have a hungry hippo on your team. What’s your move?
