The Metiss Group's Blog

We all remember that one teacher or coach or boss or trainer who really challenged us.  Though we hated being pushed and thought unpleasant things about this perceived tyrant, at the end we were better as a result.

It’s your job to challenge your direct reports challenging them to grow along the way.  You understand their specific role, their particular set of skills, and where you see them contributing in the future. Figure out what else can they do that is a step beyond what they are doing today that leverages those skills.

Push hard; most people don’t want to stretch beyond their existing skill set or comfort zone if it involves taking risk. Encourage them to embrace the opportunity and discover what else they can do beyond the status quo.  For all his faults as a leader, this is where Steve Jobs excelled.

Most people, when left to their own devices, will choose to stay inside of their comfort zone. However, there is nothing motivating about someone doing the same thing they’ve done before, and long term they will be unhappy. So, do them a favor, do yourself a favor, and empower them to achieve greater future success.

This entry was posted on February 11, 2013 at 3:42 am and is filed under Leadership, Performance Acceleration. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.