…doesn’t have to be the leader.
Now I don’t mean to say that the leader doesn’t need intelligence, or common sense, or some type of intellectual capacity. What I do mean to say is the leader doesn’t have to know more than everyone else. In fact, I also think the leader doesn’t always have to know HOW to do things better than everyone else in the room.
Here’s what I’ve learned: the leader doesn’t have to be the smartest person in the room if he or she has brought smart people onto the team and doesn’t let ego get in the way.
Do you really want the level of your team’s success to be dependent on your IQ?!?
As I was sharing this idea, one person mentioned that you not only need smart people…you need wise people. Good point.
When I say smart people, I’m not simply referring to one’s level of knowledge. I also hope that people will have some sense of strategy, timing, experience, insight, maturity, and creativity.
If you’re the leader of a group of people, it’s time to cheer on the ones who are smarter than you. If you’re the smartest one, it’s time to go out and find smarter people. As one other person told me, “If you’re wrong in your initial ideas as a leader, it provides an opportunity for those on your team to be right.” That may not be good news to your prideful ego as a leader. But egos aren’t much help anyway.
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