It’s time to take some chances on the people around you. Too many leaders constrain and contain, but the very best leaders provide opportunities for their team members to achieve things that these individuals might never have believed they were capable of achieving.
You won’t find me gambling in a casino, but I have no qualms about going all-in on the right talent. I’ve been burned a few times and fault was my own for not properly judging talent.
However, the sting of disappointment is quickly replaced by the thrill of watching as someone rises to the occasion in a significant new challenge. The victory grows sweeter over time as you watch people flourish in careers that they might never have imagined without your little push.
It’s your job to create opportunities for success.
Your belief in an individual’s abilities is a powerful source of motivation. It takes a great deal of self-confidence in oneself to be comfortable passing along that belief to another person. And that self-confidence is sorely tested and greatly appreciated as the subject of your attention stumbles along the way to success.
Many leaders are motivated more by the fear of failure than the pursuit of success. You don’t develop great teams and great organizations by letting fear rule your actions.
The talent you need to change the face of your business and even your industry might be right in front you. However, you won’t know until you’ve provided the opportunity.
It’s time to take some chances.
It’s your move and it’s time to go all-in.
Do something this week to provide a new chance, a new challenge and a new opportunity for one or more of your colleagues. You’ll be doing your job as a leader.
Art, this is great encouragement. I hope people will take your advice and do what they can to encourage the talent of others. Where would any of us be without someone believing in our abilities and affirming our talent? Thanks for this motivation to start the week right.
I will echo Becky’s comment regarding her hope that others will take this advice. As I read your post I instantly began thinking about the legacy that can be left by leading in this manner. By providing new challenges to others, you open up the possibility of injecting hope, confidence, trust, and a overall hunger for success in others. That is a strong legacy.
You nailed this one, Art. When I look back at the things that are most satisfying from the leader part of my career, they’ve all got the same two characteristics. The team achieved something important together and individual team members had growth spurts in the process.
A long time ago, I had a leader recognize there were skills and potential in me and he offered me a position in product management. I wasn’t dropped off at the doorstep to defend for myself and learn the how to suceed as the “voice of the customer”, but he mentored, interacted daily, assisted my growth and assessed my capabilities, challenges and strengths regularly. The organization we worked for “empowered” each leader to become a informal “chief talent officer (CTO)” for the company and continually seek for and promote talent throughout the organization where a best match was found.
After many leadership roles, I find myself using similar skills to identify, develop, promote and use exceptional talent found within the walls of our company. Leaders have to “step up and often step out” of the comfort zone and consistently assess their own teams, and recommend individuals to new positions where the company could benefit.
You get a feel for how much your leaders care when they take this approach. There is nothing more rewarding than taking someones unrealized potential and bringing it out to do big things in the world.
Thank you all for your comments. Jim, what a great example! Brandon, you are absolutely right, and that “caring” goes a long way in fueling motivation. Wally, I love the two components…that is a great blog post in and of itself. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm, Becky! -Art
8/12/09: Midweek Look at the Independent Business Blogs…
Every week I select five excellent posts from this week’s independent business blogs. This week, I’m pointing you to posts on managerial talents, leadership truths, picking great managers, giving talent a chance, and Superman Syndrome in new managers…
Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best independent business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.
http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2009/08/12/81209-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx
Wally Bock
[…] capable of achieving. Today’s links come from Art Petty at Management Excellence. In his post Taking Chances on the Talent Around You, Art discusses the importance of providing significant growth opportunities to the people you lead. […]
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