The Right Seat On The Bus.

In any small business, the mode of operation is often all hands on deck. This means that as you grow, your employees job description will often move them into areas that are beyond their strengths. Too often members of your team can be promoted into incompetence in their job description. So when you realize that members of your team are operating outside of their real strengths, how do you begin the process of helping them refocus what they are doing and shine?

There are two different approaches to helping your team members operate at their full potential. The first approach is to sit down with them and help them acknowledge the areas that are not in their wheel house of strength. Offer to help them grow in these area if they are willing.  The second approach is to help them identify their strong areas and give them the option to double down on these by removing other areas from their plate and reassigning them to another team member. Understanding how to communicate with your employees what their strengths and weaknesses are and how to address them will build stronger relationships and a clearer direction for the whole company.

“I think a large part of my success is the fact that I’m a huge believer in hiring the right people and giving them unbelievable amounts of power and autonomy.”

– Blake Mycoskie, Founder, TOMS Shoes

Creating a successful team is more than just getting the right people on the bus. It’s also about making sure that they are in the right seat on the bus. 

You have to lead people by their behaviors, actions, and strengths, not based on your desired outcome. 

Lead your team based on the things they have control over. When you club them over the head with things out of their control, they get frustrated. What do top performers do when they get frustrated? They go find somewhere else to work where its easier to perform well and at their peak ability. 

When you discover that a team members plate has things on it that are keeping them from performing at 100% you either have to double down on helping them grow in areas of weakness or help them double down on their areas of strength.