How to sling-shot your team past you!

“Anyone can lead motivated, confident people. A great leader can help those who feel they have no value and are not motivated understand their value, find their purpose, and shine!”

- Coach Jennie

Leadership is the ability to influence others, but navigating power and authority can be tricky. It comes with the temptation to misuse, and as leaders, we face a choice: will we use our power to impose expectations on others, or will we take responsibility for it by modeling the behaviors and values we expect from our team?

The distinction between these approaches is crucial. One relies on controlling others, often driven by fear—fear of not being enough or fear of failure. Leaders who seek control focus on outcomes and external validation, making their value dependent on what their team delivers. However, it is not the responsibility of our team members to soothe our fear of failure by overperforming or following our directives to the letter. Instead, it is our responsibility as leaders to manage our fears and ensure they don’t interfere with empowering our teams to be creative, innovative, and their best selves.

Leaders who empower their teams are rooted in trust. They trust themselves and their team to learn from mistakes and poor decisions, and they see conflict not as something to avoid but as an opportunity for growth. When team members fall short, these leaders lean into constructive conversations to build trust and encourage improvement. They set clear, healthy expectations and celebrate successes along the way.

Great leaders don’t worry about protecting their image—they focus on helping their team shine. When a mistake is made, they don’t internalize it as a personal failure; they view it as a chance to guide a team member through a learning experience. It's easy to see the best in people when things are going well, but great leaders also see potential when people aren’t at their best. Their goal is to help individuals grow to their full potential so they can contribute meaningfully to the team and the organization.

If you're in a leadership role, ask yourself, “Am I bringing out the best in people, or am I just trying to get what I need from them?” Recognize that each person has unique strengths and abilities. When leaders acknowledge and celebrate these differences, people feel valued, appreciated, and safe to be themselves. This is when they spread their wings and thrive.

Taking honest stock of your leadership style is critical. By addressing these unhealthy leadership tendencies, you have the opportunity to create a more positive, trusting, and productive work environment where team members feel empowered and valued. By modeling accountability and humility, you encourage your team to do the same. Ultimately, leadership is about those being led—lean in, embrace vulnerability, and experience the beauty of bringing out the best in others!

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- Coach Jennie

I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, or questions. Please feel free to drop those in the comments section below. Let’s talk!

Unlock your full leadership potential with personalized coaching. Whether striving for career growth or fine tuning your leadership skills, a coach can help you challenge perspectives that might be holding you back. Through expert guidance, you'll clarify your goals, develop a strategic action plan, and tackle the obstacles that fuel procrastination. With the right support, you'll gain the confidence and motivation needed build the team you are looking for and improve your teams output. Invest in yourself today and discover how coaching can empower you to take action and reach new heights.