The only way to grow your organization in 2010 is to inspire everyone on your team to see themselves as a leader. The most successful leaders will empower their team to passionately contribute—seeing the organization’s success as their own.

Whether you’re hiring an account executive, interactive manager, air talent, or receptionist, the empowerment and “people skills” of your team will make or break you.

If you are a manager—and EVERYONE IS—whether you are managing yourself or a group of people, consider asking your team to answer these questions for themselves. Use them as conversation starters in your next staff meeting or one-on-one meetings. Or, if you are answering these for yourself, take some time to evaluate how you are doing.

Question for Self Evalutation:

1. I am a valuable team member because … (e.g. I keep the interactive effort organized and well-shaped. I intentionally take time to stop fighting fires and think about the company’s strategy. I take time for my personal/professional growth—and share my growth with the rest of the team)

2. One thing I could do to contribute more effectively to this team is:

3. My team counts on me to: (What are your MOST important responsibilities?)

4. What can I do to contribute enthusiastically to my team today?

5. Do people respect me as a leader? If not, why?

6. One new idea I have brought to the table for my team recently is…

7. Where do I go / what do I do to inspire new ideas?

8. Am I overworked? If so, what is one thing I can do to create some balance in my life? What is one way that my team members could help me to be more balanced?

9. Are any of my team members overworked? What is one thing I can do to help THEM be more balanced?

10. Am I underutilized in this organization? If so, what gift do I have to offer that is not being utilized?

11. What mistakes have I recently made, and what can I learn from them?

12. What challenges is this organization experiencing, and what solutions could I suggest to the team to improve our situation?

13. Am I a good fit for this role and company? Am I doing what I love? If not, what can I do to create a better situation—or create an exit-plan for a better fitting opportunity?

14. What new friends-in-the-industry have I made this month? Am I networking to meet others who are doing what I do?

15. Who am I mentoring? Who can I mentor to take my position later … and who is mentoring me?

Ask yourself these questions. Print them out and put them up in your office, post them on the bulletin board, hang them on the bathroom mirror, and hand them out in meetings. Let each person find the answers to these questions themselves, and encourage them to find their purpose and role as a leader in your organization.

Finally, subscribe to Radio-Info’s FREE Radio3D E-mail Newsletter and read it every week for ideas on leadership for radio’s next generation.