High-Performing Non-A**holes (HPNAs). A far smaller group than you might imagine, and one well worth getting to know because under the right circumstances their individual and collective contribution is unrivalled.
In the last two decades of working with HPNAs- and the last four years of building an HPNA-centric company at Hazy- there are a few key things which stand out about the group.
In fact, many times it is inversely correlated. With some raw talent, people can be coached/pushed/intimidated into achieving narrow excellence on things like standardized tests. But who cares- what does any of that prove, reveal or tell us about the person themselves, or their underlying capacity or potential?
At HPNA Central our definition of ‘High Performing’ centers on i) a person’s innate desire to learn and grow (essentially growth-mindedness) and ii) their sustained interest in searching for what is professionally and personally Authentic to them. We have seen over time that these two elements are ultimately what enables HPNAs to achieve real impact.
Authenticity is critical because as a group HPNAs suffer terribly from the ‘Curse of Competence’, which arises because driven, personable, hard-working people are capable of successfully doing a wide range of jobs. Somewhat tragically, that very success often prevents HPNAs from discovering what is authentic and true to them.
For some, such as the junior law partners fired in the wake of the 2008 market crash, it is only external disruptive events which break the curse and allow the possibility to search for what’s authentic. This is what people mean when they say “I lost my job and (ultimately) that was the best thing to happen.”
Authenticity is a process, it is by definition highly personal and dynamic. In assessing the ‘HP’ in an HPNA we look for people curious and dogged in their search, for people who have established what is directionally correct for them and who has that growth-mindedness.
On a sunny day when things are great, or in a well-prepared interview situation, it’s pretty easy to show up as a Non-Asshole. But that’s not even really table stakes. Getting a real reading on this takes time and often also passing through difficult situations together.
The things we look for include the ability to respect others with whom you disagree, a genuine care and awareness of community, super-low ego, a sense of self and knowing one’s own ‘red lines’, the ability to let grudges go and the resilience and depth of character to retain Non-Asshole dom when put into even dysfunctional circumstances.
So it’s an accomplishment to be an ‘Non-A**hole’, a title to be earned.
This particular combination of ‘HP’ and ‘NA’ is rare. HPNAs can be found anywhere- that definition cuts across all other boundaries- but still it is a small group. HPNAs are precious, potentially outstanding contributors and needle-movers.
HPNAs are also great building blocks around which companies can be built. Hazy has spent the last four years creating an HPNA-centric organization, and it has unquestionably contributed to our collective ability to innovate, problem-solve and grow in a transparent, psychologically-safe and enjoyable environment, and to create community.
While HPNAs are full of potential value, what holds them back from having the greatest sustained impact is themselves.
Give them a work problem to solve and HPNAs are outstanding; they are creative, insightful, hard-working, client-focused. In a word: Professional.
But when it comes to managing the aspects of their lives, whether self-care or career or personal development, they are amateur beyond belief. All of those ‘work’ skills, all that professionalism, just disappears.
And this is a huge problem.
This “Amateurism” - which in a work context would likely be considered negligent or incompetence- comes at a massive price. It fundamentally impairs happiness, it often blocks self-compassion, poor management leads to burn out, reduced output - but most of all, the tragedy really, is that it stops HPNAs from having the impact on the world that they could.
At HPNA Central our number 1 focus is on combating this Amateurism. We work with HPNAs to help them recruit the same skills and ‘professional’ muscles they use at work and deploy them in service of the only real ‘Client’ that matters, which is themselves.
Our mission, my mission, is to help these HPNAs help themselves to greater, sustained impact in whatever is meaningful and authentic to them.
They’re worth it.
