Hero behavior in the workplace costs more than you think

The Hero Saves the Day

When a company has an employee who constantly steps in to “save the day”, it can easily be seen as a bonus.

This individual, often referred to as “the hero,” is the one everyone turns to when things get tricky. They take on more responsibility, solve problems and often do more than their job title requires.

The hero is a risk

But what happens when such a “hero” retires and you suddenly realize that it takes four new employees to fill the void? This is a common scenario faced by companies when they do not realize the scale of the workload that the hero managed.

Hero behavior, despite its initial benefits, can actually be detrimental to your business in the long run. It can create an imbalance in the workload, where the hero risks burnout, and other employees remain dependent on this person to solve problems.

In addition, it can lead to a monopoly of knowledge, which means that valuable skills and knowledge are not spread throughout the organization. This can create vulnerabilities if the hero ever leaves the company - just like in the scenario of four new employees.

Reduce risk with a competency matrix

So how can we deal with this?

An effective way is by implementing a competency matrix.

A competency matrix is a tool that identifies and visualizes the skills and knowledge that exist within your organization. It provides an overview of who has what skills, where there are gaps, and where there are opportunities for development and cross-training.

Using a competency matrix allows you to spread knowledge and skills across the organization, reduce reliance on individual heroes, promote independence in all employees, and make your organization more resilient.

The competences matrix can also help identify areas for further education and development.

This can help increase engagement and improve employee satisfaction and loyalty.

While we appreciate our workplace heroes for their dedication and hard work, it is important to strive for a more balanced and sustainable work environment.

By implementing tools such as a competency matrix, we can ensure that each member of our team has the opportunity to become a hero in their own way.

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