We all want teams that are energized, engaged, and operating at full potential. The key? Tap into what truly drives people. When we leverage strengths and give flexibility around how work gets done, we create an environment where people don’t just perform—they thrive. It starts with knowing our team members well and aligning their work with what lights them up. From there, we shift from rigid expectations to empowering autonomy—keeping the “why” and “what” clear while letting the “how” be a co-creation. Trust deepens when we take the time to connect beneath the surface, share our own leadership purpose, and show real vulnerability. That’s when teams bring their best—not because they have to, but because they want to.

Key Takeaways:

1. Lead with Strengths. Recognize and align work with what energizes each team member to unlock resilience, flow, and creativity.

2. Flex the How, Anchor the Why. Be clear on purpose and outcomes, but flexible on the path forward to fuel ownership and innovation.

3. Know What’s Below the Surface. Get curious about what drives behavior and create space for deeper understanding and connection.

4. Lead from Your Legacy. Clarify your leadership purpose and use it as a consistent thread that inspires and guides your actions.

5. Vulnerability Builds Trust. Showing up authentically encourages others to do the same and strengthens team engagement.

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results.

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

• The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy
• The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration
• The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community
• The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/