We live in a VUCA world — which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity — where the pace of change is staggering.
Given this environment, how can you as a leader possibly expect to have all the answers, all the time?
The truth, of course, is that you can’t.
The solution is to create leverage; leverage in the form of a team that can troubleshoot and solve problems, take initiative, contribute ideas, evaluate opportunities, etc.
In short, you need a team of leaders (regardless of their titles), where the emphasis is on empowerment and growth, not creating a legion of dependents.
Cultivating leaders not only develops a more engaged and motivated workforce, but also gives you the freedom to focus on areas of the business that are most meaningful to you, thereby improving your own job satisfaction, performance and opportunities for career advancement.
Embrace this concept and use it to guide your personnel decisions — how you hire, train, assign work, provide feedback, promote and incentivize.
Be prepared for some bumps along the way as people grow accustomed to a new set of expectations, but stay the course and the results will be worth it.
