Surrounded By The Best

Posted by Scott Williams
6 Comments
November 2, 2009
Leaders | Leadership | Next-Level Leader

bestI’ve always been intrigued by leaders, coaches and teams that use the phrase “Surrounded By The Best!” You would think this would be an obvious or natural response for all leaders “I Want To Be Surrounded By The Best!”  The reality is that many leaders desire to be the best and surround themselves with mediocrity.

The word best is an illusive term; however it’s defined as being of the highest quality, excellence, the best work, desirable etc.  With that definition in mind, a leader should want the best, understanding the fact that they are responsible for developing their team to be the best.  If you look at sports teams that have a tradition of winning and being the best, you will find a head coach that surrounds himself with the best assistant coaches in the business.  You will also find a program where everyone in the country is trying to recruit and hire those assistant coaches.  Why?  It’s simple, they are high quality, desirable and the best.

I was visiting with an executive level leader last week and he was talking about his senior leaders philosophy as it relates their leadership team.  His senior leader said this “I want guys on my team who are high capacity, high quality, I want the best.  I want guys on my team whose phone rings from people outside of our organization.  I want the guys that other guys want.”  I shared a post early this year entitled The Best Leader that outlines OU Head Football Coach Bob Stoops’ leadership and the sending out of 6 head coaches in the last 6 years.

If you want to be Surrounded By The Best, you must embrace these three things:

  1. It’s your responsibility to develop your team and give them opportunities to be the best.
  2. You have to give those that are “The Best” room to fly, dream big and try new things.
  3. You must openly embrace that best will not only be sought after, but sometimes the best will leave and take those best practices other places.

Anyone can be the best with hard work, commitment, dedication, learning, leading and having the willingness to be Surrounded By The Best.

Share your thoughts on Surrounded By The Best.

  • http://milefromthebeach.wordpress.com andylie

    Outstanding, Scott. I personally needed to read this today, both in the context of my professional life as well as my role as a volunteer leader at my church.

  • http://www.twitter.com/marcmillan Marc Millan

    Fab. This starts with a leader who is comfortable in their own skin and secure in themselves, therefore they allow those around them to grow and reach their full potential.
    An Insecure leader doesn’t want smart, talented people around them, they FEAR too much.
    I am thankful I am not suffering from that mindset and that I don’t work for leaders or around leaders like that, praying for those that do.

  • http://mocreative.tv scottmo

    thanks for the great content. I wish it was that clear to everyone IN leadership.

  • http://www.epiccalling.blogspot.com Matt Bowman

    Good stuff Scott. If leaders think they have to be the smartest, most creative, etc. person in the room, they’ll never recruit the best or develop their other leaders into the best b/c it is all about them as the point leader.

    In a way a leader should look forward to the day when “the best” in their organization steps out & takes that leadership elsewhere. This move allows both leaders’ leadership to expand into a new sphere of influence. Leaders shouldn’t just collect the best; they should develop, equip, & finally release the best into the world to leave an impact on the world.

  • http://www.hardcourtlessons.com Audley

    Great post Scott.

    I’m a firm believer that the greatest leaders are those who develop the people around them and do so from a position of sincerity and self interest.

    In the long run, making others better elevates the leader as well!

  • http://www.hardcourtlessons.com Audley

    OOPS..correction in the first sentence – I left a word out.

    It should read:

    “I’m a firm believer that the greatest leaders are those who develop the people around them and do so from a position of sincerity and not self interest.”

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