28 Jan Your boat only floats as high as the tide

Leaders consistently ask me about what I feel is next for them in their professional development. The conversation usually goes like this, “Should I get a coach, do my MBA, find a mentor, join a peer forum group, join a board of directors…” My response is this, “Yes, possibly, to all of those things, but first can you please tell me in detail about the leaders on your team, because your boat only floats as a high as the tide and the tide is your team. So do you want a shinier boat at the current level of the tide or do you want your boat to float higher?”

As an ambitious leader we can get laser focused on our personal and professional development; that time and energy pays off dividends. Where I’ve seen even greater leverage created is in developing the leaders that report into you. The time and energy you put into developing, coaching, mentoring, and empowering those leaders has a magnifying effect on your leadership. Now you have a strong team who can take on more responsibility from you, freeing up your time, energy, and brain power to focused on the 2-3 things you do that really create leverage for your organization.

So before you sign-up for the next development opportunity, buy that next book, think about hiring a coach, consider what you’d like to get off of your plate and who on your team you could coach and support to take over that responsibility.