Our CEO Hillary Spreizer contributed to an article at Twin Cities Business Journal. Three business leaders contributed to the article. Here is what Hillary shared:

Once leaders move away from measuring success by their own output, they must learn how to bring out the best in people who may work, think and solve problems differently than they do. Strong leaders do not create teams of people who mirror them; they create alignment while allowing individuals to contribute their own strengths.

Hillary Spreizer, CEO and Owner of The Latitude Group, experienced that transition when she moved from being a successful salesperson into a leadership role responsible for helping others succeed. “When I was first promoted into leadership, I was coming in as a high-achieving salesperson,” Spreizer says. “My role went from being the best at the job to leading others to be successful; that was a hard shift and a different role.”

The change required Spreizer to rethink how she measured achievement. Rather than focusing only on her own performance, she learned that leadership was about helping others grow. “Success is coaching people that do things differently toward a common goal, not recreating yourself,” she says. “Clear definitions of success and accountability are key. Mutually agree on those, and everyone has more alignment.”

For new leaders, this means creating clarity while allowing employees the freedom to bring their own perspectives and abilities to work. Spreizer also emphasizes that leaders do not need to have every answer. “As a leader, I can’t know everything because it stifles growth for my team and myself,” she says. “The point is to coach those around you toward their version of growth.”

That process requires patience and vulnerability. “Breathe,” Spreizer says. “You’re absolutely not going to get it right every time. That’s okay. It’s critical that your team sees you navigate that. It will build trust and set them up to try new things. If you’re uncomfortable some of the time, you’re doing it right.”

Read the full article, with insights from all three business leaders, here.