Do you know where you are going? I sometimes ask people the tired question about where they see themselves in five years. You would be surprised at what I hear back. Many haven’t really thought about it. Many more have only a vague sense of what they want their future to look like. Look, it’s not that you need to have everything crystallized, but if you don’t know where you are going, then how can you help your team members chart their own course? Yeah, I know. Some people will say, “not my problem.” I would proffer that it should be your problem. At least in some way. Leaders get the best from their people when they help those people plan for their future. And, breaking news, that plan may not include working on your team. Great! Now we are finally being honest. Every professional I have met wants to improve. Help them chart the course. If you get to keep a superstar for 2-3 years before they move on, it will be a great 2-3 years. Over time, you will earn a reputation as a real pro. Superstars like working with other superstars.
With your teams, don’t get out of the way, do this instead
"Get out of the way!" I often hear some version of this sentiment when talking about building a culture to incentivize high performance teams. "You have to find the right people, equip them, and then get out of the way." People who talk about getting out of the way...