The answer to growing your team is not “I just need to do more”.  That’s actually the best way to not grow.  Keeping the “to do” list on your own plate is probably the best way to stagnate growth.  When the “to do” list remains too large for everyone, there is a diminishing return on the effectiveness of your personal efforts and the team’s collective results.  Not only is the team’s effectiveness diminished, but each person’s work/life balance is most likely out of balance too, which benefits nobody.  So how do you grow your team?  Simple.

• Get yourself out of the way: Take yourself out of the mix.  Don’t make yourself the obstacle.  How can I better cast a vision on the goal or task ahead so others can accomplish the effort with me being less involved?
• Empower others: Don’t micro manage your team. How can you empower your team so they know they have full authority to do what needs to be done?
• Growth and development: Equip your team for success. How can you equip others to have the necessary resources to get things done?
• Servant leadership: Growing your team has to do with others, not with you. Don’t lead from the top.  Lead from the middle of the pack.  Be part of the solution.  How can you help the team get done what needs to be done?

The best way to grow your team is not to have you do more work, it is to train up others to do what you are doing.  If more team members are doing what you are doing, the team will be destined to grow while developing a sustainable organization that is well balanced and positioned for the future.

Growing every day…