The Game with Alex Hormozi: Episode 882 - The 5 Reasons Your Team Isn’t Following Through
Introduction
In Episode 882 of The Game with Alex Hormozi, entrepreneur and business strategist Alex Hormozi delves into one of the most critical aspects of business growth: ensuring that your team consistently follows through on tasks and responsibilities. Hormozi introduces his proprietary five-step framework, known as the STAR System, designed to enhance team performance, foster clear communication, and ultimately drive your business from a net worth of $100 million to $1 billion.
Overview of the STAR System
Hormozi emphasizes that the ability to influence others is paramount for any business leader. The STAR System serves as a tactical approach to understanding and addressing the underlying reasons why team members may fail to execute tasks as expected. By implementing this framework, leaders can transform confrontational conversations into collaborative problem-solving sessions, thereby improving overall team efficiency and morale.
The Five Steps of the STAR System
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**S - Did They Know You Wanted Them to Do It?
At [04:35], Hormozi explains that the first step is to ascertain whether the team member was aware of the task assignment. Miscommunication often arises from unclear or undocumented instructions. Hormozi advocates for written directives to eliminate ambiguity. He states:
"If it isn't written, it never happened." [04:50]
By documenting tasks, both parties have a clear reference point, reducing misunderstandings and ensuring accountability.
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T - Did They Know What to Do?
The second step involves verifying whether the team member comprehended the specifics of the task. Hormozi highlights the importance of defining tasks in terms of behaviors or outcomes. For instance, instead of vaguely requesting a "TPS report," specify the format, content, and delivery method. At [12:10], he notes:
"Clarity is high leverage work. It probably takes two or three extra minutes for you to be very clear, and then someone's going to save two or three extra hours." [12:15]
Clear instructions empower team members to meet expectations without unnecessary confusion.
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A - Did They Know How to Do It?
The third step assesses whether the team member possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to complete the task. Hormozi stresses that all skills are trainable, albeit some requiring more time and specificity. At [20:30], he shares:
"Everything is trainable. It’s just not everything’s worth training." [20:35]
Leaders should identify skill gaps and provide targeted training to ensure competency.
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R - Did They Know When to Do It?
Timing is crucial in task execution. Hormozi advises setting clear deadlines and continuously monitoring progress. By asking team members how long a task will take, leaders can gain insights into workloads and prioritize effectively. At [27:45], he emphasizes:
"If you just assume whenever you ask for anything that it should be done by end of day, your organization will move at seven times the speed like some organizations." [28:00]
Establishing realistic and consistent deadlines accelerates business operations and enhances productivity.
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Final R - Was Something Blocking Them?
The final step investigates any obstacles that prevented task completion. Hormozi cautions against taking these excuses at face value and encourages leaders to assess whether the barriers could have been overcome. At [35:20], he asserts:
"We ask these other questions. The first four are what I would consider very standard business practices. But this is where we ask the fifth one, something's blocking you." [35:25]
By addressing and mitigating these obstacles, leaders can remove hindrances and support their team's success.
Practical Application of the STAR System
Hormozi illustrates the STAR System with a practical example involving an employee, Kyle, who failed to deliver a TPS report by the agreed-upon deadline. Instead of reprimanding Kyle harshly, Hormozi guides him through the five steps:
- S - Awareness: Kyle was unaware that the TPS report was a priority.
- T - Specifics: Kyle misunderstood the report's requirements.
- A - Capability: Kyle lacked the necessary training to format the report correctly.
- R - Timing: The deadline was unclear or unrealistic.
- R - Obstacles: Kyle faced unforeseen challenges that impeded his progress.
Through this structured conversation, Hormozi transforms a potentially confrontational scenario into a constructive dialogue aimed at uncovering and addressing the root causes of Kyle's underperformance.
Importance of Clarity in Leadership and Communication
A recurring theme in the episode is the significance of clear and precise communication. Hormozi draws parallels between effective communication and prompt engineering in AI, emphasizing that clarity reduces misunderstandings and enhances efficiency. At [18:50], he states:
"We're communicating like monkeys. We got to be as crystal clear as humanly possible." [18:55]
By fostering an environment where expectations are explicitly stated and documented, leaders can significantly improve task execution and team cohesion.
Additional Insights and Pro Tips
Hormozi offers several pro tips to complement the STAR System:
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Incremental Instruction for Skill Development: Break down complex tasks into manageable steps and demonstrate each step to ensure understanding. This method facilitates skill transfer and increases competency over time.
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Reframe Challenges as Opportunities: By addressing potential blockers immediately, leaders can encourage problem-solving and resilience within their teams.
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Adopt an 'End of Day' Mindset: Setting daily deadlines rather than weekly or monthly ones can drastically increase organizational speed and productivity. At [30:15], Hormozi explains:
"If your default is end of day, your organization will move at seven times the speed of an end of month organization." [30:20]
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Cultivate a Culture of Accountability: Consistently applying the STAR System fosters a culture where team members are responsible for their tasks and motivated to meet expectations.
Conclusion
In this episode, Alex Hormozi provides a comprehensive and actionable framework for addressing one of the most pervasive issues in business management: ensuring team members follow through on their responsibilities. The STAR System offers a structured approach to diagnosing and resolving the underlying causes of underperformance, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, skill development, realistic deadlines, and obstacle removal. By implementing these strategies, leaders can enhance their team's efficiency, drive business growth, and cultivate a high-performing organizational culture.
Notable Quotes from the Episode
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On the Importance of Influencing Others:
"Getting other people to do what you want is arguably the most important skill... it unlocks every other skill that every other person potentially has." [00:02]
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On Shifting Conversation Dynamics:
"By framing it that way, it completely shifts the whole vibe of the conversation." [03:15]
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On the Power of Clarity:
"Clarity is high leverage work." [12:15]
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On Training and Skill Development:
"Everything is trainable. It’s just not everything’s worth training." [20:35]
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On Organizational Speed:
"If your default is end of day, your organization will move at seven times the speed of an end of month organization." [30:20]
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On Motivation and Accountability:
"Motivation is the opposite of deprivation." [40:10]
By adhering to the principles outlined in this episode, business leaders can effectively address and mitigate the reasons their teams may not be following through, leading to sustained growth and success.