Lori Harder argues leaders waste time comparing team members on identical metrics instead of finding where each person uniquely excels. She skied to both poles, struggled with some physical tasks, but became the fastest with a snow shovel. The lesson: discover what each person does better than anyone else.
Not everybody adds value in the same way. You may be leading people that seem like they're not performing at the same level as everyone else. Instead of writing them off or expecting them to overcome that weakness, be the leader. That helps uncover the area where that person can really shine. I've skied to both the north and the South Pole. Like cross country ski? Yes, cross country ski. Two months across Antarctica. My teammates had to take weight out of my sled because I couldn't keep up. Oh, I was beating myself up. I sub. I'm worthless. Nobody wants me on this team. At the end of the day, you have to build a big snow barricade around your tent to protect it from the elements. You use this short snow shovel, and these tall guys are wrenching their backs. At 5 foot 4, I could use that snow shovel a lot more easily. So that was a way I could add value. And so I learned stop comparing myself to other people in areas where they're strong and focus on the area where I can really shine.
