Unlocking Your Team’s Genius
When was the last time you implemented an idea that came from one of your frontline staff members?
Can't remember?
Okay—when was the last time you asked your frontline team members for their ideas?
Can't remember that either?
Look, you're not alone.
So many well-meaning leaders I know struggle with this important transition as they move up through the ranks of management and leadership.
You're excited about your promotion, you are ready to finally be in charge and implement the great ideas you have for your organization. But there's an important truth that awaits you.
When you lead a department, your job isn't just about your own genius—it's about your ability to:
unlock the genius of your team and volunteers, and
effectively empower your team to scale your collective impact.
If your team is looking at you with blank stares during meetings, or giving you exactly what you asked for and nothing more, it may be because they've gotten used to taking orders rather than activating their own experience and creativity.
Shifting this dynamic takes focus and practice—for you and your team.
Here's an exercise you can do to get started.
Choose a project on your department's "to do" list that still needs to be figured out. The projects that work best here are those related to team culture, new technology, or something else that requires some research.
Assign 2-3 staff members to work together on researching possible approaches, formulating a recommendation, and presenting it to you. Try to pick folks who don't work together all the time.
After the presentation, ask for some refinements, approve the approach, and then have the team present out to the rest of the department. Have them answer questions and get back to folks after the fact if they don't have all the answers in that moment.
Implement it and have team members provide feedback along the way. Adjust or build on the new approach as needed.
You do not need to be the source of all the ideas, genius, or creativity on your team. (In fact, you shouldn't be.)
Give yourself a break from the mental load of "carrying it all" and give your team a chance to grow and shine.
Interested in seeing how other leaders are managing this transition? Join the conversation on LinkedIn.