Carl Gould is a business transformation expert with 7 Stage Advisors. His methodologies are practiced in over 71 countries.
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Have you ever hired someone with an excellent track record only to find they never perform well? Maybe you’ve noticed that lackluster ex-employees came alive at another firm? Likewise, we’ve all noticed that some hires do well at some companies but not at others. But not all of us understand why.
You may be able to improve employee performance by learning how to recognize two basic types of hires. I call them muddy water fish and clean water fish. Both types can be great team members if they’re in the right job at the right organization. And both can fail miserably at the wrong company.
Muddy Water Fish
Some staff members thrive in ambiguity. They like to apply their own methods to achieve success. These are muddy water fish. They enjoy limited visibility. They don’t need a lot of direction. These team members do best with broad job descriptions, solve problems as they go and enjoy constant change.
Muddy water fish are a great asset when a company needs to drive rapid growth, especially in the early stages. They like to wear a lot of hats and usually want to help in a range of capacities. They are creative thinkers who thrive in chaos. However, rule books and dress codes frustrate them. They like to take an idea and run with it, so paperwork, consensus thinking and regulations slow them down, and they know it.
Muddy water fish can also create a cloud of muck to protect themselves. Turmoil can be a form of job security for this type of employee, and they have been known to develop homebrewed job positions and titles that are impossible to fill. As a company grows and adopts more systematic processes, muddy water fish may fight the new structure or move to another startup.
Clean Water Fish
Many employees need maps and plans to perform. They want to see what’s next and know what to expect. I call them clean water fish. These process-driven individuals wish to work within a clear framework.
Established firms with well-developed processes are usually full of clean water fish. They respect workplace roles, don’t venture outside the box and work well with very large groups. But clean water fish also have drawbacks. Their need for organization and hierarchies can paralyze them in a startup environment. Without a well-developed playbook, they tend to swim in circles, shying away from risk. They also get upset if others break the rules or make exceptions to established procedures. Their need for order can become a barrier to progress. They want a five-year plan, even if one doesn’t exist.
Room To Swim In Most Organizations
Early on, muddy water fish are an obvious choice for most staff positions, but even startups have tasks that require systems and order. (Accounting comes to mind.) Clean water fish are perfect for these process-driven departments.
Once an organization puts processes in place, it may be time to clean up the waters. However, as a startup morphs into an established firm, muddy water fish tend to create conflict, become overly territorial or even scare off new employees. Clean water fish are better at embracing the processes, encouraging cooperation and developing systems. However, even large corporations have a few areas in which ambiguity rules. Sales, marketing and innovation are all areas that need muddy water fish to succeed.
Once you can identify these basic working styles, you are better equipped to hire the people who are the best fit for your company. So, whether your firm embraces creative thinking, leans toward consistent performance or does a little of both, there may be room for both types of fish in your business pond.
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