Do you surround yourself with great people?

You will often hear successful people talk about the quality of the people around them. “My people make me better. I have people I can rely on for great advice. Find people who are better than you and work with them.”

My greatest success at building a team of great people was the formation of my coaching staff in the Institute for Innovative Leadership at Indiana University Northwest. As Executive Director I created a leadership development program for outstanding upper-class undergraduates and graduate students. The participants were selected through a rigorous, competitive process for this prestigious program.

The year-long curriculum included weekly sessions with accomplished leaders, facilitated small group activities and discussions, skill-building workshops, and individual coaching. To provide this amazing core of leaders with a team that would coach, teach, and facilitate, I needed to find the best, and I did.

George had been at Amoco as a senior manager overseeing government affairs and public relations globally. Denise was a marketing guru working on high-level projects with her primary focus being the development of an international airport. Trina had moved up the ranks in safety and security work in the Chicago medical community. Tom was a sales coach and motivational speaker having played in the NCAA basketball tournament finals. Mary was a highly successful business consultant working with Fortune 500 companies.

All of these people were active leaders, in-demand, highly accomplished, and well respected. As coaches and teachers, they were the best of the best. Every student who spent time with this team was impressed by their knowledge and experience. They would change the lives of our students in incredible ways.

It was my great fortune to be in their presence. I learned and benefited from their talents and wisdom. They made the Institute an amazing place. If you surround yourself with amazing people, you will be amazed.