The Greatest Gift You Can Give as a Leader

During this time of year, we think a lot about “gifts” — and the best ways we can show our love and appreciation for others.

For today’s message, I want to show you how you can give the ultimate “gift” to your audience — be it as a leader, a parent, etc.

What is this gift?

It’s the gift of “self-discovery.”

Now before you think, “Marcus, what the heck are you talking about??” — stay with me here.

I want you to imagine a co-worker comes to you and asks you to help them solve a problem that you’ve solved hundreds of times.

In this moment, do you simply give them the answer (as most leaders would) or do you instead take them on a journey where they’re able to discover the answer for themselves?

Or as a parent (or aunt, uncle, etc.) — imagine a child comes to you with an obvious question.

Do you quickly give them an answer?

Or do you take them on a journey where they’re able to discover the answer for themselves?

The reality is most leaders, most parents, most friends, etc. are QUICK TO GIVE ANSWERS (especially when we have what we believe to be the right answer).?

Why?

A few reasons:

1. We believe it’s more efficient (faster, quicker, etc.)
2. We want to feel important and needed
3. We think we know what’s best

Does this ring a bell?

If you’re being self-aware, it likely does.

So what’s the issue with giving immediate answers when approached with a problem?

To name a few:

1. It teaches our audience (our team, our kids, etc.) to automatically come to us when they have a problem, which in turn (in the business world) causes us to have flooded inboxes.
2. It stunts the development of the person who came to us with the problem. (because they’re not thinking for themselves).
3. It takes away the sense of ownership of the solution.

I have a leadership book coming out on this subject in the future, but I can tell you this:

The moment we stop feeling the need to be the hero and immediately give answers, and instead look for ways to allow others to “discover” the answer, our impact on the world will be dramatically greater.

I’ve seen this with my team.

I’ve seen this with the audiences I speak to.

I’ve seen this with my kids.

And on and on.

In the coming months, if you continue to read this newsletter, you’ll learn many ways whereby you can give this gift of self-discovery to others.

And by applying what you learn, my promise to you is that your personal and professional lives will improve in ways you didn’t imagine.

Here’s to a 2024 full of self-discovery. ??

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays my friends,

-Marcus

Need a keynote speaker or team training on how to create moments of self-discovery with your team as a leader?? Reach out today .

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