Benefit Concert

I wanted to share an incredible experience with you. I have started a not for profit organization called, “Friends Helping Friends.” It is an organization that raises awareness of childhood cancer and raises money for children that are experiencing cancer that live in our community. This is an incredible organization, but that is not the incredible part that I wanted to share with you.

The leadership team that is leading our franchise are the incredible ones! They have given so much of their time and talent to ensure that the children of “Friends Helping Friends” have the support that they need. They have attracted so much community attention that other businesses approached us and wanted us to help them with a benefit concert for FHF. The team decided that they would take the initiative to make it happen, and I had the pleasure of watching from afar as they stepped forward and lead other business owners. Led them to get involved with a community cause as well as teaching them about cause marketing. Due to their leadership and their willingness to step forward for a cause, many different events are being held for the FHF project: A bike ride with over 150 people, golf tournaments and other fundraisers. Through their leadership they are creating a movement within our community. Maybe one day, a movement nationwide!

The old adage, You're only as strong as the people around you is true. Yet so many of us in management tend to forget it, and in doing so we weaken our own management and leadership power bases.

Many of us fall into the trap of hoarding power, even when we don't think we are. We hoard our power by limiting the information we share. We hoard our power by not delegating the authority, as well as the responsibility, for projects. We hoard our power by interacting with only a select group of key employees.

The problem with hoarding power is that one person can effectively control just so much power. There's a point at which one person can focus and manage effectively. This point, once reached, will then limit how much and how effectively the organization will grow and operate. This point, once reached, also marks the limit of our management and leadership power. If I had not given the power, the authority or the responsibility to my leadership team, they would have never been able to inspire an entire community. The effect of FHF would be limited and a nation wide program would not be a reality.

To ensure your ability and your limits for management effectiveness and power continue to grow - give some of your power away. What! Give away a limited resource! Are you nuts? Maybe. But give power to those around you and you'll see your organization surpass its former limitations.

Share the appropriate information with the appropriate personnel so they can learn and take on additional responsibilities. Delegate the authority as well as the responsibility for projects to give others opportunities to learn and to experience the true highs and lows of project management. Give power to those outside your normal select group to identify prospective new key players. Give others the opportunities to become powerful in their own rights. The stronger they become; the stronger you become.

Empower your people. Leverage your power. Grow a powerful organization.