The 5 keys to team harmony- Key 3: Coaching and developing others.

Coaching and developing others.

It is commonly thought that being called to serve is a burden.  “Heavy is the head that wears the crown” the saying goes.  While the weight of this is often rooted in care which is essential to moral decision making and final decisions do rest with the leader, this weight doesn’t have to be so heavy if we train and rely on those around us.

In my years in business and trying out many different models, the one I found to be the most successful is to invest in and call forth the greatness in others.  By first seeing the gifts and glimmers in others we can gently coax out the potential that is begging to be revealed…providing merely the space and time for what is intended to emerge.  Bearing witness to this provides such immense positive impact to all parties, it simply cannot be measured.

As with anything, there are barriers and challenges to face with this process and it takes patience.  We don’t all learn the same way at the same time.  We are emotional beings who bring our cultural drifts and ways of seeing the world. 

The benefits of developing others still outweigh the efforts for a few key reasons:

• The loyalty built pays back ten-fold. Just think how grateful the employee will be that they finally found someone who will invest in them!
• The leader learns as they teach, bringing more awareness to themselves and how to serve others in the future.
• The rest of the team sees the changes in themselves and their associates which builds a culture of learning, able to overcome future challenges with more ease.

If you are finding yourself challenged in your day to day and taking on too much, remember that you are not alone.  A strong team starts with a smart leader who knows when to delegate and ask for help.  Expressing this vulnerability becomes a real strength and can build a phenomenal culture.

Remember we are all here to learn and consider the quote from Muhammed Ali- “service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”