3 Ways To Practice Bringing Out The Best In Others

Being a good leader means knowing how to bring out the best in others.

“Obviously, Matthew,” you say. “But is this innate or a learned skill?”

Good question. I believe it can very much be a learned skill. To get there, here are some exercises:

1. Figure out what your team members’ individual strengths are, and then focus on them. Play them up, tap into them, point them out. 
2. Practice your empathy skills. Listen to what your team members are saying and try to imagine life in their shoes.
3. Resist the urge to micromanage. Nothing says “I don’t trust you to do a good job” like micromanaging. 

As a leader, bringing out the best in others starts, of course, with hiring people who have the potential to begin with. That’s our job. Your job is to cultivate your hires.