Be a Strong Leader
They say that behind every good leader is a team of talented people contributing to her success.
That may be true, but the question I ask my clients as a business leadership and positioning coach is, “Why would you want to settle for good?”
And if, like the passionate entrepreneurs and business owners I work with, you’ve set your sights on being a better than good leader, it’s time to take that team of talented people out from behind you, and bring them up alongside you.
Valuing your team
Good leaders know how to leverage the talents of their team members, but exceptional leaders know it’s just as important to leverage the spotlight that comes with success so it shines on everyone who helped achieve it. It’s human nature to want to feel special and recognized, so when you share your wins and attribute success to the whole team, you encourage them to stretch and grow and reach even higher goals.
It may sound counterintuitive, but the truth is that the stronger you are as a leader, the more you’ll shine the light on others. That’s because the best leaders understand that their role is about influence, not position. It’s about creating a vision that inspires, empowering the team to bring it to life, and celebrating their achievements.
In other words, you work for them.
Take it from a rock star – literally
I got to see strong, successful leadership in action firsthand last summer when I attended a Jason Mraz concert with my daughter at the Mann Center. As the headliner, Jason could have easily made the show all about him, but instead he created a celebration of inclusion and joy that lifted up everyone there – from concert-goers to band members.
The opening act was a kid from TikTok. One day he was performing songs in his house on a Live to a dozen people, saw Jason come on, and said, “I wrote this one for you.” He played his heart out and got invited on the tour where his whole family cheered him on from the audience. Jason gave this kid the shot of a lifetime – and he was great!
Jason’s band – an interesting mix of what others might call misfits – also had their moment in the spotlight. He went far beyond the typical introductions, physically moving to the back so each musician could have a solo at the front of the stage.
“My mission is simple,” Jason has said. “It’s to shine a light through music.” Talk about creating a vision people are inspired to be part of! By literally not taking center stage several times throughout his concert, Jason proved that leaders don’t lose power when they shine the light on others – they gain respect, loyalty, and the passionate dedication of people who want to give their absolute best to something they believe in.
How strong a leader are you?
When I work with business owners and entrepreneurs, I encourage them to assess their leadership qualities by looking at things like:
Language: What word do you use more frequently in your business – “we” or “I”? The words we choose tell the world what – and who – matters to us.
Retention: How long do team members stick around? If you’re plagued with continual turnover, your team may not feel included or appreciated. Strong leaders tend to keep a team for the long term because they are trusted.
Morale: How genuinely invested and excited are your team members to share your vision and mission? When leaders take all the credit for work that their team contributed to, it erodes their trust, which in turn impacts morale and productivity.
Shine a light instead of casting a shadow
Lifting up others around you will help you and your business thrive. Wondering how you can shine a light on your team members? Here are a few practical steps you can take:
If your company wins an award, don’t claim it yourself – have the team accept it publicly.
When you make presentations to clients or the community, invite your team to step into the spotlight.
Make team recognition part of every meeting.
Recognize potential among your team members and offer to help develop it.
Encourage additional learning opportunities like training certification programs.
Always give credit where credit is due!
Leaders who want long-term loyalty and next-level success inspire their team to believe in a bigger mission and cause. I love working with leaders who want to take that leap from good to great by building a strong team of collaborative and engaged contributors.
Learn how we can work together HERE. If you’re leaning in, schedule a quick Connections Call to talk about growing your business HERE.