Quick Question: How might I be underestimating my team?
Quick Question
Here is today's quick question for you...How might I be underestimating my team?
Take a moment to consider each member of your team. Mentally review each of them, one by one. What comes to mind when you think about their readiness to take on something new? What you see as ‘not hungry enough’ might be laconic. Or perhaps their tactical focus is a symptom of not having the capacity to think strategically. Is there a risk that you’re holding them back?
Ask it when you're...
Feeling like everyone relies on you - If you're the bottleneck in most decisions, you might be underestimating your team's readiness to step up and own more responsibility.
Surprised by someone's insight - Those moments of "I didn't know they could do that" are signals to consider what other assumptions might be limiting your team's contributions.
Struggling with delegation - If you find it hard to let go of tasks, the issue might not be their actual competence but your perception of it.
Listen for...
Try to listen for:
(over)Protective language - when you find yourself saying "they're not ready" or "I don't want to overwhelm them," consider whether you might be protecting or limiting them.
Fixed assumptions - treating the past as permanent rather than recognising growth and evolving capabilities.
Self-oriented bias - assuming others need the same learning curve you did, rather than recognising they might learn faster.
Follow up with...
Sometimes, the greatest value comes from the one extra question you take the time to ask.
In this situation, you could try…
What might happen if I gave them this challenge?
What opportunities am I stealing from them?
What experiences might reveal their true capabilities?
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