As Inc. notes in the intro to the latest edition of Expert Insights, smart leaders surround themselves with smart people. While that’s obviously the right approach to building and sustaining a successful business, it may create obstacles if not approached properly. Members of the Inc. Leadership Forum, including BL CEO Carolyn Stanworth, explained how they lead people who know more than they do in certain areas.
In “Managing People Who Know More Than They Do,” Carolyn notes that her role isn’t to be the smartest person in the room. She explains how she empowers people to lead in their strengths:
I think that’s one of the most important responsibilities of a leader — surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. I’m not an engineer or an architect. So the technical experts in our organization will always know more than I do, and that’s exactly how it should be. My role isn’t to be the smartest person in the room. It’s to create the environment where the smartest people can do their best work. Effective leadership starts with understanding different frames of reference, listening carefully, and asking good questions. When you respect expertise and empower people to lead in their areas of strength, better outcomes follow.
Read what others had to say on the topic here.