Don’t Carry the Team — Activate It

Author: Marvin V Acuna

Don’t Carry the Team — Activate It

Leadership is not about bearing the weight of the world—or your team—on your shoulders. It’s about empowering your people to share the load and activating their full potential to achieve greatness collectively. The true essence of leadership lies in the balance between personal strength and the ability to cultivate it in others. When you transform your body, or strengthen your leadership, you're not just changing yourself—you're setting a precedent and a powerful example for those you lead.

The Fallacy of Carrying the Team

One of the most persistent myths in leadership is that great leaders are the ones who carry their teams like Atlas holding the Earth. This Herculean archetype often leads to burnout—not only for the leader but for the entire team. The crux of effective leadership lies not in overwhelming personal heroics but in the strategic deployment of team capabilities.

• Carrying the team might lead to short-term victories, but it's unsustainable.
• It undermines the development of your team members, as they become reliant on you instead of fostering their own skills.
• It stifles innovation and initiative since team members might hold back their ideas, expecting you to take charge.

Empowerment: The True Catalyst

Empowerment is the backbone of team activation. It is the process of entrusting authority, increasing autonomy, and granting agency to your team. When appropriately administered, empowerment becomes the catalyst that transforms a group of individuals into a highly cohesive unit.

Here’s how you can empower your team:

• Develop Trust: Trust is the cornerstone of empowerment. Without it, empowerment is merely a buzzword. Encourage open communication, recognize contributions, and show that you believe in your team’s capabilities.

• Delegate Wisely: Effective delegation involves matching tasks with team members' strengths and interests while allowing them to explore and expand their skill sets.

• Provide Resources: Equip your team with the necessary tools and resources. This support demonstrates your commitment to their success and builds confidence.

• Encourage Decision-Making: Let your team make decisions related to their work. This step promotes accountability and gives them a sense of ownership over their performance.

Shared Load, Shared Success

When you shift from a mindset of carrying your team to activating your team, the dynamic changes dramatically. You start to experience a distribution of responsibilities which leads to innovation, problem-solving, and shared success. This shared load is not only more manageable but also more rewarding as it reflects a collective achievement.

• A shared load encourages collaborative problem-solving.
• Team members become more invested in the outcomes, driving them to put forth their best efforts.
• It facilitates a growth-oriented environment, where continuous learning and adaptation become the norm.

Trust: The Glue that Holds the Team Together

Trust is fundamental in creating a harmonious and effective team dynamic. Without trust, shared workloads falter, empowerment fails, and the team’s strength dissipates. Building trust requires consistency, honesty, and vulnerability.

• Consistency: Be reliable in your actions and decisions. Consistency from leadership builds predictability and security within the team.

• Transparency: Open communication regarding goals, challenges, and outcomes fosters an environment of transparency. Honesty, even when the truth is tough, strengthens trust.

• Support: Stand by your team during failures, and celebrate successes with them. This attitude reinforces the belief that you are in this together.

Creating Leaders Within Your Team

A leader’s ultimate success lies in their ability to create leaders within their team. This nurturing approach not only makes the team more self-reliant but also maximizes potential across multiple areas.

1. Mentorship: Invest time in guiding team members. A mentor-mentee relationship can unlock hidden potential and provide personal and professional growth.

2. Recognition: Acknowledge leadership behavior and reinforce it with recognition. This practice encourages others to emulate and aspire to lead.

3. Opportunities for Growth: Give team members opportunities that require them to step up and lead—whether through projects, presentations, or task forces.

Leading with Spartan Discipline and Conversational Warmth

The duality of leadership style balances Spartan discipline with conversational warmth. This approach ensures that there is a structure and rigor in place to achieve goals while maintaining a heartwarming and open atmosphere that nurtures team morale.

• Spartan Discipline: Uphold high standards and have a no-excuse attitude towards achieving results. Discipline fosters resilience and commitment.

• Conversational Warmth: Engage with empathy and understanding. Celebrate diversity of thought and encourage expression of ideas.

Conclusion: Change Your Body, Lead Your Life

As you advance in your leadership journey, consider how the transformation of your physical health mirrors the transformation needed within your leadership style. Both require discipline, strategic effort, and a willingness to embrace change. Empower yourself and your team by shedding the inefficient ethos of carrying the team on your own. Instead, activate your team through empowerment, trust, and shared goals.

Remember, you can change your body—and through it, lead your life and your team with purpose and passion. As you embody this leadership style, you are not just leading; you are inspiring a movement towards collective excellence.