Russ Benblatt

Leadership is EASY!

OK, so it’s not easy…but it is simple.

The biggest problem most people have when it comes to being a good leader, is not being able or willing to embrace their own limitations. Accepting that you might be wrong, that someone on your team may know more than you, asking for help…well, it’s not easy. It’s much easier to keep your team in your comfort zone. But the best leaders have figured out that by surrounding yourself with exceptional people, giving them the resources and space to do their best work (and letting them do the work that’s worth doing), is the fastest way to help your team succeed. Of course, you’ll need to throw in a fair amount of mentorship and also be willing to make the hard and sometimes unpleasant decisions, but once you make the shift from “managing” your team to “leading” it, you’ll be happy that you did.

The second piece of the leadership puzzle is harder. (Did I say it was easy?) It’s about taking risks. There are more than enough people who do the work that’s expected of them, the work that’s sure to produce results, the work that doesn’t make anyone uncomfortable…so why be one of them? Creativity, innovation, inspiration…all come when you color outside of the lines, when you rock the boat, when you challenge the norm. Next time a team member comes to you with that crazy but brilliant idea that may or may not work...embrace it! Work with them on it, help them where it’s needed, and let them run when they can. If it fails – own it and see what you can learn from it. But own it, YOU are the team’s leader. If it succeeds – let THEM own it. Celebrate their success and the success of the team.

Embrace your team, teach your team, celebrate your team…LEAD your team, they’re desperate for it.

I’ve had the good fortune of leading one of the strongest, most inspiring and exceptional teams any leader can hope for. My biggest wish is that when they move on to positions of leadership themselves, they spread the simplicity of it all.