Meet Your Three Types of Employees: Change Agents, Fence Keepers, and Obstructionists

Poor results hold back an organization. Organizational mediocrity will reign if underperforming employees are allowed to do nothing or create disharmony and get away with it. Most companies rely on a few key people in the right places to get the job done. Imagine what your organization could achieve with a simple combination change in employee type.

The three types of employees.

1. A Players: These are the Change Agents who step in, provide leadership, have a high degree of responsibility, and take ownership. (Typically 5-10% of an organization) These are the people you turn to when you need to get things done.

2. B Players: Most of the workforce around 70%. In times of stress or organizational change, they are the “fence keepers” because they are sitting around trying to figure out if the organization will lean toward excellence or mediocrity. They will “come off the fence” and take ownership if management supports the A-Players. They are often full of ideas and will contribute them to the organization, but only if it is safe to do so.

3. C Players: Typically 10-20% of any organization. They are often referred to as “obstructionists” because they obstruct. They are only interested in receiving a paycheck and doing as little work as possible. The problem with this group is that if they are allowed to get by with poor performance, the B players will see management approve of their behavior and begin to imitate them. The sooner you identify your “Stonewallers” and remove them from your organization, the sooner B players will align with Change Agent initiatives.