Building Your Leadership Team

A leader must have a solid team that can support their goals and helps to drive their organization forward. But how do you create such a team? The answer lies in building a leadership team that is made up of learners and guides.

Credit: Molly G on Substack for the framework here.

Learners are always looking for opportunities to grow and develop their skills. They are open to new ideas and willing to take on challenges. On the other hand, Guides are those who have already achieved success in their careers and are now ready to share their knowledge with others. Guides are also folks that have experience in a stage or two ahead of where your company is today. As a leader, a guide will ensure your path is correct and predict challenges.

So, how can you start building a team with Learners and Guides?

Identify the traits of Learners and Guides:

• Learners: constantly seeking new knowledge, open to feedback, willing to take risks, adaptable to change

• Guides: possess a wealth of experience and expertise, able to mentor and guide others, have strong leadership skills

Assess your current leadership team:

• Identify individuals who are natural Learners or Guides

• Look for areas where you may need to fill gaps in terms of skills or perspectives

• You will be better served by putting a Guide or Learner in specific roles in your organization. This depends on your preferences, the business you are in, and the stage of the company.

Create a culture of learning:

• Encourage your team to seek out new experiences and knowledge

• Provide resources such as training programs, mentorship opportunities, and access to industry events and conferences

• Foster a safe environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks and trying new things

Develop a diversity of skills and perspectives:

• Seek out individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets

• Encourage diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving

• Ensure that your leadership team is representative of the larger organization and the communities it serves

Continuously assess and adjust:

• Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your leadership team

• Identify areas where you may need to make changes or adjustments

• Stay flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances

Building a leadership team that includes learners and guides will help ensure your organization remains competitive in today’s ever-changing business landscape. By harnessing the power of these two groups, you can create a dynamic team capable of achieving great things!