If you want to create a top team it is not enough to hire top talent. Top talent is only one part of the equation as a team of all-stars does not automatically make an all-star team.
Although I believe a lot in self-organizing teams, I am convinced we always need a leader to make the team successful. Even if you want to perform as a soloist you will have to admit there is always a team around you.
A leader is someone ready to take the responsibility, the risk and whose leadership style fits with the culture of the organization. Someone able to set goals and stretch the team.
It is important to make the team see the bigger picture and therefore you have to be able to communicate the vision and values in an inspiring way so everyone understands where we are heading to and more importantly why we go there.
What we also expect of the leader is to take rapid effective decisions in rapidly changing circumstances.
Great leaders can make the whole team challenge the status quo, motivate either one in the team to learn new things.
Leaders aim to get a creative and innovative team and when you start from scratch this is easier as all the team members are there with their own background ready to play and perform in a new team with a new common vision. Becoming the leader in an existing organization and culture obliges the leader to convince the team to unlearn what they always thought. It is sometimes a big challenge to convince people to be open to experiment and dive into the new.
I think to be able to succeed in your challenges as a leader, it is not about showing power, it is more about vulnerability and staying authentic.
Stay humble, but show your team that you are there to catch them when they fall.
But do never forget you need some people around you, some hands that are also ready to catch you when you fall.
Strong leaders build parachutes for themselves before assisting others.
