So often when we hire individuals to join our team the expectations are that they will be good at everything. Of course, we hire their skill set for a particular position we need to fill, but do we ever engage enough to identify a truly good fit for all aspects of the job? Do we seek agreement along the way? Taking a sincere overview of our teams will unleash unique talents of our members while also addressing areas of opportunity. Perhaps more important is recognizing how we as leaders approach the hiring and development processes with biases and beliefs that may hold us – and our results-
Let’s start with self.
May I ask…. when is the last you took inventory of all areas in your business to understand what you do well versus areas you struggle with? Often, we don’t want to analyze these areas due to our own egos, but some beliefs and insecurities limit us and our ability to create our visions. We as leaders can stand in our own way, limiting our abilities to grow and to lead.
Thoughts and beliefs that can hold us back:
- I am not enough.
- We’ll be judged our peers and those we lead.
- A leader can never be vulnerable or show any type of weakness in any situation.
The expectations we place on ourselves can hinder our own personal growth within our organizations. We can be so consumed with worry about perfection that we get stuck in the “process” of what we do, missing amazing opportunities that are right in front of us. We must be honest with ourselves about what our true gifts are and be in alignment with our purpose. Recognizing our own strengths will assist us in identifying the strengths and gifts of others that we lead. When we take inventory of self and organization, we must remember to reintroduce ourselves to our own strengths.
Creating a talented team begins with us, the leaders, being our authentic selves. That includes recognizing and appreciating our honest strengths while being courageous enough to ask for help and hiring people with talents we don’t yet possess. True strength in leadership requires utilizing the gifts of others and empowering those we lead to grow to their full potentials. When we can reach this in our organizations, we open doors to new possibilities for others. Our example sets the tone for our organizations and the people in it.
This is our journey.
~ Greg Aden
Sales Lead