Should Leaders Give Underlings An Opportunity to Grow And Achieve The Next Level Of Success?
There was a minor controversy in the blogosphere earlier this week, you may already know about. In summary, a well known and highly trafficked blogger posted a message that basically said due to the volume of requests, he no longer was entertaining link requests. If you want to get his attention, you now need to first get the attention of blogs he reads. His post resulted in mixed reviews of understanding and shame. Overall, a lot of people voiced they felt the policy was arrogant. Maybe the blogger was just misunderstood.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry, it doesn't matter.
The reason I mention it is because there is a business angle to this story I believe of interest and worthy of thought. How does unknown talent get recognized? And should you give unknowns an opportunity on a larger stage?
For every success in my professional life, there was an opportunity created by someone that took a chance on me, someone that gave me the next level of responsibility and handed me Enough Rope to hang myself. Without the help of others, I wouldn't have risen as fast as I did in corporate America. Sure, I had a big hand in my success, but someone had to give me the opportunity.
You have to take responsibility for your own success and you have to be prepared for the big opportunity – trained, experienced, eager, open to new ideas, willing to take calculated risks, step outside of your comfort zone, etc. But you also need someone to recognize your potential and give you the opportunity.
The world is full of capable people. There are cubicles full of people hungry to move their career forward. Many of them have potential to be the next superstar, the person that puts the organization on their back and moves it forward. But as good as they are, as good as they may be, as great as their potential�…they need someone to give them a chance.
Coming full circle. The blogosphere is full of talented bloggers – people that are skilled in their field, thoughtful in their ideas, and challenging in their opinion. Many post daily in a world read by no one. They're ready; they need someone to take a chance.
Look in your organization. Find the talent hidden in smaller projects and less responsible chores. Take some people under your wing�…and give them a chance.
Isn't that a huge part of leadership – realizing the talent around you and freeing it to greater good?
Management | admin | 20 January 2006 |
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By junee, January 24, 2006 @ 4:55 am
Why not? There is room for beginners. But I also agree that you cannot possibly achieve success without the help of someone who is greater than you. However, success too lies under one’s determination to excel.