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www.canadianlawyermag.com 35 3 Create a sense of 'tribe' A "we're all in this together" attitude can be the single most important ingredient to team success. Leaders who have each other covered and can speak the truth to those around them have the greatest oppor- tunity for building trust. When leaders feel that they're part of something bigger than themselves, they are more likely to tap into their own potential and be brave in their decisions. They will challenge each other and celebrate each other. 4 Get them uncomfortable It's true that the greatest learning happens in discomfort. For your leadership team to know what they're really capable of, you have to test their resilience and capacity. Given permission to play big and take calcu- lated risks, they will grow their relation- ships with each other and learn from their mistakes. This is where their potential sits as a team. Create opportunities and environments where they won't know the answers and might get it wrong. Magic happens when leadership teams get space to do this. 5 Pay attention to what they're doing, saying and feeling Your leaders will be constantly receiving feedback from everyone, from their direct reports to shareholders. Leaders need leaders! They need senior people who care about what's happening to them. They need a safe and robust place to push back and share the experiences they're having. They need to know that they can ask for help and that all emotions have a place. 5 Honour the future version of your leaders Imagine your leaders in two years' time. How much more will they know? Consider what you would put in place for your leader- ship team if they had already proved them- selves. If they were smarter/wiser/more experienced leaders, is it likely they would have more responsibility and be assured of a seat at the table when it counts? When leaders feel like they are trusted, they can expend their energy on the people, processes and problems that really need their attention. The reality is that it's unlikely that anyone else can create success for your leadership team. They are going to have to work hard and get on the ride. I've never seen a team that was an overnight success. Recognize and value their commitment and courage, as these two attributes will be the foundation you want them to lean into. "When leaders feel that they're part of something bigger than themselves, they are more likely to tap into their own potential and be brave in their decisions" Lisa Stephenson is the founder of the consulting firm Who Am I Projects and the author of Read Me First. She draws on decades of experience as a global speaker, leadership consultant and success coach and has worked with some of the biggest global names, CEOs, elite athletes and entrepreneurs.