Office Dinosaur

Seniority vs. Ranking

When a decision needs to be made a specialist is usually called in. If you need something important to be done you most often look to your best human asset to complete the task. When rewards are to be given it is most often the best in a field that receives the accolades. So who is the best? When you have multiple employees, crossing differing backgrounds, generations and experience levels, who is your top choice? These questions can have different answers depending on your field, the situation, the timing or the makeup of the team. Yet what it usually boils down to is a choice between someone who is the most senior in a position and the number one performer in a position.
Seniority has been a strong factor in decisions across the globe for centuries. The term “elders” most likely took on more meaning then simply “elderly” due to the perceived superior experience in any field due primarily to their sheer longevity. Some cultures revere their elders , others put them in homes and visit them on weekends or holidays. At times it maybe more about respect than knowledge but more often most people who have been in a position for longer do have greater experience and knowledge to draw a conclusion from. It's that pesky "draw a conclusion" part that I think is the biggest pitfall to assuming that seniority equals success. It takes a mind and the ability to make the right choices, not just know the consequences or the possible results of each.
This is where the number one performer steps to the plate. #1 is the individual who just kicks butt! The go-getter, the one who'll ask for challenges and solve them successfully. When someone in the office is "shining" it is most often the #1, no matter the topic. Smart or shrewd, ballsy or adventurous, call it whatever you want they always seem to average out to success in the end. It is in that "average" though that some dirty spots may hide. While you may see and focus and remember their tremendous trophies, shadowed along the way their exist some spectacular failures. The challenge in selecting the #1 for your champion is that you're "pretty sure" they'll end up with success, just not sure why. Their lacking experience inevitably leads to the discussion of luck.
Choosing between our two individuals can be difficult and annoying to others when they lose out and feel slighted. If you're the office dinosaur you can't believe it when Chuck the new guy gets a promotion. Suzy from sales is invited on the annual trip with the boss instead of you only because you think she's hot, meanwhile you're blinded to the fact that her numbers outranked your's for three consecutive quarters. Conversely, the new wonder kid can't believe that Stan gets the corner office with his drab style and monotonous mindset, thinking it's only because he's got tenure.
Both have a point and both are being ninnies (thanks Matt, I'll borrow that!) So select wisely, it may be your saving grace or your last mistake as a manager or boss. Good luck.