Skip the rock stars

A lot of companies post help-wanted ads seeking "rock stars" or "ninjas." Lame.

Unless your workplace is filled with groupies and throwing stars, these words

have nothing to do with your business.

Instead of thinking about how you can land a roomful of rock stars, think

about the room instead. We're all capable of bad, average, and great work. The

environment has a lot more to do with great work than most people realize.

That's not to say we're all created equal and you'll unlock star power in anyone

with a rock star environment. But there's a ton of untapped potential trapped

under lame policies, poor direction, and stifling bureaucracies. Cut the crap and

you'll find that people are waiting to do great work. They just need to be given

the chance.

This isn't about casual Fridays or bring-your-dog-to-work day. (If those are

such good things, then why aren't you doing them every day of the week?)

Rockstar environments develop out of trust, autonomy, and responsibility.

They're a result of giving people the privacy, workspace, and tools they deserve.

Great environments show respect for the people who do the work and how they

do it