Written by: Suzette West, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Every significant vision needs a team to make it a reality. When in alignment, people get along. Collaboration flows because people are on the same page. They work through issues and move toward progress. They remain open-minded and compassionate during troubled times to maintain clear communication as they lean in and move through problems. They resolve conflicts while preserving the dignity of all involved. They embrace our shared humanity and are sensitive to maintaining a high level of care in their dealings. Achieving this level of care requires dedication to an innovative spirit and an inclusive culture.
Co-creating such a culture requires a spirit of reciprocation, giving, and receiving. People with caring personalities and character traits show concern for themselves and those around them. They care deeply for the greater good of achieving the vision. People who embody this character can activate intentional synergy and produce the kind of impact that makes a positive difference in the transformation of many lives. These are the new A-Players of the world. This article will explore and offer three character traits to recognize them and co-create a fruitful collaborative endeavor.
The New A-Player Defined
People often think of A-Players as action-oriented alpha personalities at the top of their game. In the old way of thinking, alpha personalities drive themselves to succeed. They have a deep need to be in control. They measure success by what they have and what they accomplish. They are the doers of the world and often "do" at the expense of just BEing. In the new way of knowing, A-Players balance doing with being. They can slow themselves down to get still, attune to the heart space, receive informed intuition, and then take inspired action accordingly—this makes A-Players a mighty force.
In the new paradigm, A-Players have evolved into a more profound sense of self-awareness where the heart and mind work together to guide and navigate the environment and relationships in a way that embraces our shared humanity. What defined A-Players in the past has changed and continues to change as more humans realize that there is more to life than accumulating stuff and material possessions. At the core of this new breed is a present human being who goes above and beyond to sense a greater meaning behind what they see playing out in front of them. There is a higher power influencing the way they show up in the world.
These evolved humans have been growing in numbers since the pandemic of 2020 began. Staying home created the conditions for coming home to self, and so these humans suddenly were able to slow down, be still, and get in touch with what matters. They have done--and still do--the inner work to clear self-limiting beliefs and unconscious biases that would otherwise block the flow of compassionate communication and authentic connection with themselves first and then more fully with the people around them.
The Language of Energy
A-Players exude a specific quality of energy. They are adept at dropping the mind into the heart, sensing what is true for them, and allowing life to unfold accordingly. These quantum humans are empathetic individuals who follow and trust guidance from within. Commitments mean a lot to these new A-Players. They care deeply about making things right when they fail to honor their obligations or unintentionally hurt another person.
Raising the Bar for a New Paradigm
These humans have a natural grounding and calming effect on their surroundings because of their coherent energy; this happens because the heart and mind connect and activate the highest possible outcomes.
When you bring a group of these new A-Players together, magic happens because their potent individual energies combine to co-create a higher quality of community and collaborative synergy. Synergy is a force that creates results that are greater than the sum of the individual parts.
To recognize these new A-Players is to sense their presence and the quality of energy that emanates from them. The truth at its core is that a person's energy field never lies, so this is the first point of recognition for A-Players.
The 3 Energetic Character Traits of the New A-Player
Character Trait No.1 ‒ They are Allies
The first recognizable character trait of the new A-Player is that they are allies. In the simplest terms, this means that they care. They care about you as a human. They care about creating mutual benefit and impact. They care about the vision. In the book Traction (Wickman, 2011), Gino Wickman offers a "People Analyzer Tool" that evaluates a person's intention, alignment, and capacity. This tool boils down to 3 questions (Wickman, 2011, p. 100):
Do they get it?
Do they want it?
Do they have the capacity to do it?
When considering a person for a project or team, the first step is to check in with oneself first and then tune into the other person's energy. Do they seem genuinely interested? Do they get the vision? Do they care? If the answer is yes and they possess the skills to contribute towards accomplishing the dream, then by all accounts, this person embodies the qualities of an ally. However, when the person is distant, lacks interest, is undermining, or is uncaring, their energy field reveals that they are not allies. It's best to move on.
Character Trait No.2 ‒ Their words and actions align
The second recognizable character trait of the new A-Player is that they recognize and align with the significance of a shared vision and feel a sense of purpose in bringing the concept to life. Accordingly, their words and actions align with achieving the vision. The opposite of alignment is misalignment. Misalignment shows up as strained or no communication, mismatched expectations, not being on the same page, not going in the same direction, resentment, disengagement, bickering, quiet quitting, shutting down, and pulling apart instead of bringing together.
Character Trait No.3 ‒ They are accountable
The third character trait of the new A-Player is that they are accountable. When these new A-Players are clear on the tasks, roles, and responsibilities, they become instrumental in helping bring a vision to life. When problems arise in fulfilling their missions, parts, and obligations, they seek solutions for the best way forward. The new A-Players persevere through difficulty most equitably and compassionately. These new A-Players overcome adversity by following their informed intuition, trusting the process, and keeping the lines of communication open, honest, kind, safe, and compassionate. They seek clarification and adjust accordingly to establish and maintain compassionate latitude, psychological safety, and mutual understanding.
The opposite of being accountable is being unreliable. It's going dark when things go wrong. People go dark when they stop communicating and feel unsafe speaking out. It is a sign that trust has broken down and psychological safety has been damaged or destroyed.
In Conclusion
As the world changes, what it means to be an A-Player is also changing. It is no longer about the egoic alpha personality type. It is no longer about being in control and exerting authority over others. The New A-Player cultivates a rich inner life that allows them to anchor into authenticity and have reverence for our shared humanity. To recognize them is to sense their energetic frequency. The three characteristics of the new A-Players are that they are:
Allies.
Accountable and caring about preserving human dignity, and finally.
Their actions align with their words, deeds, and intentions.
When you identify one of these humans with the necessary gifts, talents, and skills, they will contribute to creating a collaborative community.
Suzette West, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Suzette West is a leader in alignment coaching. She has created strategies that help leaders attract, grow, and retain a team of diverse and inclusive A-players that achieve more together, are on the same page and are aligned with the overall vision and mission of the team. Suzette began her professional journey in real estate, but after a spiritual awakening in 2015, an internal re-orientation awoke a new passion for heart-centered alignment and the unleashing of human potential. She is the Founder and CEO of Wild Hearts Rising and has helped many individuals and teams over the years to build resilience, strengthen emotional self-regulation, and to activate many breakthroughs and transformations.
References:
Wickman, G. (2011). Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business. Dallas: BenBella Books, Inc.
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