Sean Glaze argues leaders always have favorites, but it's based on performance, not demographics. The traits that matter: keeping promises, taking initiative, competence, empathy, and owning results. Leaders should be transparent about what they value so team members know how to earn that status.
You know, as a basketball coach, players and even parents would sometimes accuse me of having favorites, people that I played more than others. And the reality is that every coach, regardless of sport, has favorites, just like every leader and owner in any organization. It has nothing to do with age or race or gender or religion. What it has to do with is the people who keep their promises, who take initiative, who are competent, who demonstrate empathy, who take responsibility for results. So you don't want your people to resent the fact that you have favorites. What you want to do is to explain the metrics that you care about, because if they understand the rules of the game, they're far more likely to be able to win and become one of those favorites that you're going to be able to benefit from having on your team. I'm Sean Glaze. That's what effective leaders do.
