You’re not in competition with your team

Your team is there to help you; they’re not your competitors.

I just heard another story about how a CEO, while on multi-week travel to close a big deal, kept his team completely in the dark regarding the status…for weeks! Requests for updates were answered with generic platitudes (“going great”). His stated reason? He didn’t have the time to keep his team informed. Not surprisingly, his technology expert accepted an offer to join another company, simply because he had no idea what was happening.

That kind of “me first, team second” attitude is alarmingly common among owners and leaders. Does it affect you? Consider the following questions in light of your own experience:

How did you feel when:

• Someone on your team sold more than you?
• Someone on your team came up with a great idea that improved performance and made the systems and processes you established obsolete?
• A subordinate was more “popular” than you?

Any regrets with how you felt or acted? You’re not in competition with your team; the more successful they are, the more successful you are. Encourage them to be better than you, and then take it to the bank.