“Being led with parity is like running a race where everyone ties for last.” – John Sensiba

Treating everyone you lead fairly should be a no-brainer for leaders everywhere.  Regardless of people’s individual characteristics, no team member ought to have to deal with unfair treatment.  Not only that, as an organization, it can and does create a toxic environment that’s a guaranteed roadblock to success.

However, while trying to meet that standard, a lot of leaders fall into a different trap.  They equate treating people fairly with treating people the same.  If team member A gets the opportunity to do X, then team member B should get the opportunity to do X as well.  That sounds great, but it just doesn’t work.

Your people are not all the same.  They aren’t all designed for the same challenges, and they don’t all deserve the same rewards.  Some of your people are the equivalent of ‘A’ students, and some aren’t.  That’s just reality.

Part of the reason leaders fall into the treat-everyone-the-same trap is that it’s easier.  If everyone gets treated the same, then we don’t have to explain to the non-‘A’ students why they didn’t get promoted as quickly, or paid as much, or why they didn’t have the opportunity to work on the company’s most important work.  It’s a way to keep from rocking the boat.

But the boat needs to be rocked.  Our best people need to be pushed.  Our best people need and want to grow, and not at the same pace as the people who aren’t our best.

Look at your business.  You know who your best people are.  Are they having the same experience as the people at the other end of the spectrum?  Are they getting the same kind of training and development?  Are working on the same kinds of things?  Are they getting promoted at the same pace?

They shouldn’t be.  Your best people want to have, and should be having, an experience that’s right for them.  One that challenges them and allows them to grow at the pace they want.  They deserve that experience.

And if they don’t get it, they’ll leave.  One thing is always true:  Your best people will always have opportunities to go work somewhere else.  If you don’t give them a reason to stay with you, they’ll leave, and you’ll be left with all the people who aren’t your best.

Leading to keep things “equal” will work.  Things will stay “equal”.  But it will be a race to the bottom, and your business will learn to regret it.  Be fair, but don’t be equal.