While working at IBM, I managed a team of AIX System Administrators with diverse skills and personalities. One standout member was a self-taught programmer—confident, resourceful, and passionate about solving problems. He’d spend his days at work troubleshooting and likely spent many nights honing his skills at home. He was, without a doubt, talented.
Often, he would come into my office to report an issue with the system. I’d typically resolve the problem in about five minutes. This became a routine.
One day, I noticed him walking toward my office, but then he stopped, turned around, and left without saying anything. A few hours later, he returned with a smile on his face and said, “I figured it out.”
Curious, I asked, “What did you figure out?” He showed me the solution and then added, “I wasn’t about to walk in here and have you figure it out in five minutes again.”
That moment was pivotal. It showed he was motivated to stretch his abilities, solve problems independently, and take ownership of his growth. This was precisely the mindset I wanted to cultivate within the team—confidence, persistence, and self-reliance.
Empowering team members doesn’t always require formal training or instruction. Sometimes, giving them the space to rise to challenges is enough to inspire growth and innovation.
