Author.
Speaker. Entrepreneur. Co-author of Smart Customers, Stupid
Companies.
"A
superior leader is a person who can bring ordinary people together to achieve
extraordinary results." Many years ago, an entrepreneur told me that. He was
right.
But
this isn't just true of leaders. It's true of all human beings.
I've
come to believe that the most valuable talent is being able to recognize hidden
skills that others possess.
Why? There's only one you, and you only have so much
time. But if you can bring out the best in others, you gain remarkable
leverage.
So
very hard...
I'm
not just talking about recognizing talent. I'm talking about being able to
recognize a look in someone's eyes that tells you something valuable is burning
inside that person.
I'm
talking about realizing that if you take Jake's drive, mix it with Julie's
intelligence and Dave's creativity, then you will transform three mildly
effective people into a spectacular team.
I'm
talking about looking past what's "wrong" with others, and instead seeing what's
special about them in
very pragmatic and actionable terms.
How
do you do this?
Here's
a short list of ways you can bring out the best in others:
1.)
Really pay attention. Instead
of rushing past a person, or barely acknowledging their existence, you could
choose to stop and really look into their eyes. Look at their body language.
Consider what they are NOT saying and NOT doing. Ask yourself
why.
Consider
two possibilities. One is that they have more value to add, but are unwilling
(yet) to show greater initiative. Another is that they lack the confidence to
utilize their "hidden" talents in a public fashion. Then look for ways to offer
motivation and support.
2.)
Magnify the quietest voices. Money,
power, and influence often flow towards the loudest voices in an organization -
but sometimes the quietest voices possess the best answers. Can you think of a
way to magnify the quiet voices?
For
example, I once visited an organization and was greeted by dozens of outgoing,
warm people. But one young woman sat quietly in a corner, studying a book. It
turned out she had recently moved from China, and did not yet have a strong
mastery of English. But she was a genius, had performed at Carnegie Hall as a
teenager, and had both a broader and deeper perspective than virtually everyone
in the room.
Think
about ways you can identify and encourage these quiet
gems.
3.)
Mix things up. Watch
for opportunities to create non-intuitive combinations of people, ideas and
circumstances. You can do this through social events, discussion groups, or even
a carefully orchestrated meeting. You can do this by introducing people via
email, and giving them a reason to interact.
Many
times, we make the mistake of waiting for others to initiate change. You might
be thinking: this isn't my job, I'm not head of the department/division/company.
Anyone can do this, and no matter who does it, that person is cultivating the
amazing skill of bringing out the best in others.
4.)
Look past your own biases. Most
of us are drawn to certain types of people. They might be like us, or they might
simply be people who like us.
If
all you do is to follow your natural instincts, then you will be blind to most
of the talent on Earth. You need to cultivate an appreciation for people who
think, act, and feel differently than you. This is a tremendously difficult
challenge.
One
way to start is to make others feel important by listening, really hard - with
100% of your attention - to what they have to say. Then repeat back what they
told you, so that they know you understood. It's a small step, but an important
one in the right direction.
If
you only interact with people who are within your comfort zone, you will seldom
achieve anything great. Almost by definition, spectacular progress requires
disparate ideas and talents to come together in unprecedented
ways.
Become
one who cultivates talent in others. It will enrich your life and supercharge
your career.
Thanks
for reading this.
About
Bruce: For
nearly two decades, Bruce Kasanoff has advocated the idea that companies should
help individuals - both customers and employees - get what they want and
need. He
is the co-author with Michael Hinshaw of Smart Customers,
Stupid Companies and
author of Making It Personal. You
can download his free ebooks at Kasanoff.com.
