Share the Spotlight: The 48 Laws of Peace
No. 6. Make Room for Others to Shine and Be Recognized
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
—attributed to the Buddha
In life’s grand theater, it's easy to think of yourself as playing the lead role. Yet, a truly fulfilling narrative seldom features one hero; it's a story rich with different characters, each contributing unique gifts.
Sharing the spotlight enhances your leadership skills and fosters mutual growth.
Imagine a basketball team where only the star player ever touches the ball. No matter how talented that player is, the team's potential remains limited by the endurance and skill of just one person. But when each player is given a chance to shine, the team discovers new strategies, gains resilience, and dramatically increases its chances of winning.
Sharing the spotlight goes beyond delegation, too. It's about recognizing and valuing the unique contributions of each collaborator. The late Steve Jobs is credited with single-handedly building Apple. Jobs was an iconic and perhaps iconoclastic leader, but Apple's rise to global prominence was equally due to the talent and hard work of collaborators such as Steve Wozniak, Jony Ive, and many others. Jobs understood the power of genius in collaboration and (literally) shared the stage with team members during product launches.
Innovation is frequently a collective endeavor.
When you actively make room for others to shine, you're not just building a more robust team, you’re also fostering a culture of distributed empowerment. Such boosts morale and encourages each colleague to serve a shared mission. Different individuals can still get credit for their singular contribution while participating in an effort that is greater than any single person.
Be warned, though: This is not a suggestion to "cut down the tall poppy" or to hammer down “the nail that sticks up.” Such egalitarianism is foolish and toxic. Instead, the admonition to share the spotlight means that a Pippin or Kukoč can never attenuate the brilliance and mastery of a Jordan.
In the long run, you can leave traces as a leader. But your leadership will not be remembered as much for the people you helped to empower as the success for which you might wish to take credit. Sharing the spotlight isn't a zero-sum game. It's a strategy for sustainable growth and long-term success.
So, the next time you find yourself basking in the glow of recognition, remember that even the brightest star is part of a constellation.
