Frequently recognizing the talents and skills of those you lead is what good leaders do. When leaders express pride in the skills of their team, that honor permeates throughout the organization and bolsters confidence and esteem. To further burnish the pride team members feel, the best leaders do something more. They showcase the skills team members possess that they themselves lack.
When leaders highlight the talents and skills in others that they don’t possess, they encourage team members to see the tremendous value they bring to the team. This illustrates to team members that everyone brings their own unique contribution to the team. The team quickly learns that the combined talents of the team are always greater than any individual team member, including the leader.
By calling out the strengths others uniquely possess, leaders emphasize the importance those skills make to team effectiveness. This lifts everyone up, often unleashing the potential others have to make a difference. The greatest leadership talent is bringing out the talent of others. Be sure to use your own weaknesses to point out the essential skills of team members. Who knew your weaknesses could so powerfully help the team?
