Leveraging Talent in Your Team

Let Smart Team Outperform You

Once you have the right people on your team, you need to learn how to let them take responsibility and deliver great results. Steve Jobs once said, "It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do." This quote is very important for top managers: the true value of hiring smart people lies not in directing their every move but in empowering them to leverage their skills and creativity. In this post, I will explain why it's essential for managers to step back and let their smart teams outperform them, and how they can inspire their team members without micromanaging.

Stop Telling People How to Do Things

Managers often excel in their field and may naturally be top performers, which can lead them to give detailed instructions to their team. This approach works against the goal of leveraging talent. Another common mistake is micromanaging, which involves excessively overseeing every detail to ensure tasks are done precisely as expected. If you find yourself doing this, stop and try the approach described below.

Give Empowerment

Hiring and developing top talent is only the beginning. The real challenge is creating an environment where these individuals can perform their best. Empowering your team will let them show their capabilities and encourage innovation. By giving your team the freedom to make decisions and take ownership of their work, you can unlock their full potential. Let your team take responsibility for initiatives and results.

Provide Trust and Autonomy

At the core of empowerment is trust. Trust that your team members have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make the right decisions. Autonomy goes hand-in-hand with trust, providing employees with the freedom to approach their tasks in the way they see fit. This doesn’t mean abandoning oversight, but rather shifting from directive to supportive leadership.

Offer Support

While empowering your team, do not forget to give them your support. They may need to acquire new knowledge and skills. It is your duty as a manager to ensure they have opportunities to learn. Your own knowledge sharing and coaching will probably not be enough. Seek other resources and make them available for your team. Additionally, support their ideas and help them with the execution of those ideas.

The Benefits of Stepping Back
When you restrain yourself from micromanaging and instead guide and inspire your team, the benefits are many:

1. Increased Innovation: Teams that have the freedom to explore and experiment are more likely to come up with innovative solutions.

2. Higher Engagement: Employees who feel trusted and valued are more engaged and motivated. They stay longer in a company and have more energy at work.

3. Better Decision-Making: Empowered teams bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the table, leading to more informed and effective decisions. This is especially important when there is a sudden problem to be solved and you are not there.

4. Positive Team Atmosphere: Trust and autonomy foster a collaborative and supportive environment. Team members enjoy working and being with each other.

5. Outstanding Results: Innovation, engagement, and good decision-making are key to achieving goals and often outperforming expectations.

Conclusion

Steve Jobs’ insight reminds us that the true value of hiring smart people is to let them excel in their roles without unnecessary interference. For top managers, this means creating an environment of trust, autonomy, and inspiration. By stepping back and allowing your smart teams to outperform you, you not only unleash their potential but also drive your organization towards greater innovation and success. I strongly believe in the performance of empowered teams. I can help you learn how to create an environment where your smart colleagues can thrive and lead your business to superb results.