3 mindset changes for leaders to maximize the power of their teams

There's an old African proverb that you may have heard:

If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.

As a leadership facilitator, I have facilitated an exercise where we have individuals complete a survival simulation by themselves and then with a group.  In <90% of cases, the group is more likely to survive than the individual.  In my head, I've known this for years.  Yet, my 360 feedback often highlighted my challenge in bringing people along.

1) I often focus on productivity or speed as my measure for success. As an individual contributor for years, this made sense.  I was successful based on what I accomplished.  However, now as a leader, it's not about what I can produce.  It's about what my team can produce.  And there's no doubt that others will be more motivated if they're bought in and inspired.  If they buy into the vision too.  So, it's worth it to take the extra time required to have the team co-create the vision with me.  I had to redefine what success is for me now as a leader.  It's not about what I get done, it's about what the team accomplishes.

2) Diversity of experience and thought can address blindspots.  After being an engineer for 20+ years, I've found some ways that work.  I have a tendency to do things the same way because they have brought me success in the past.  I have learned through different design thinking and visual facilitation training programs I've taken that through co-creation the solutions others come up with are better than my original idea. I may be 80% there on my own, but the 20% others bring is the differentiator.

3) When you're tired, when you're exhausted, others can help carry the vision forward.   If you've ever see birds flying south for the winter, the birds take turns being the lead bird in a V formation because its tiring.  Similarly, when we work in teams we are able to rely on others to keep the momentum going when we are tired.  They can help us find the time to recharge so that we can lead again.  In order for this to work, others have to be bought into the vision as much as you are.  This is also important to keep in mind if you want to continue to advance your career.  You need to start training your successor.