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There is this period of time during the gold rush, where people rushed to find gold and get rich. Some found gold and became rich, others had nothing to show for their efforts. This is a high risk, high reward situation. The people who made money consistently were the ones who sold shovels to the gold diggers. This is low risk, and low reward, but steady and somewhat predictable. One the gold dried up, the shovel makers were out of business.

When staffing your leadership team, how many are “gold diggers” and how many are content “selling shovels?” you have to balance your “portfolio” with both types of people and watch out for the conflict that is inherent when the two personalities meet. Unlike the gold rush, these people have to work with each other on a daily basis.

The “gold diggers” are likely to be the risk takers who will resent the slow, methodical, risk averse approach of those who “sell shovels.” The latter will see the former as aggressive, pushy, short tempered bullies.

The nuance in the modern workplace is that you are not “one or the other.” You are both types at the same time. Develop your awareness to know when you are which type. Develop your skill to work better with the other type.