The value of having someone around you that knows the ropes is priceless. Being trained by a specialist ensures you get the essential tools for the task at hand right way. Being in relationship with someone smarter than you, who is willing to enable you to succeed, certainly makes life easier. We all know how working for the man who does not want to pass on essential skills leads to frustration, power and control issues, and not a nice work place. You can’t beat knowledge and experience properly shared.
It can be frustrating dealing with a person who does not have the right knowledge. For example, oftentimes you go into a shop and ask the assistant for advice and they are clueless. They have limited product knowledge, they don’t have a vested interest in the company, other than getting paid, so they don’t really care. It is another experience entirely when the owner serves you, especially in a service industry. And really, aren’t all good businesses built on great service? They want your business and they want to build relationship with you.
If knowledge and experience are not shared, business falters. Not passing on essential expertise causes frustration. It is a sure way to erode morale. People need to be empowered with the right knowledge and be able to get it easily. The best way is face too face. Yes, of course you can find an answer in written form, but it is much better for our social well-being when we can ask someone. Especially someone with an interest in our success, someone who has the right experience for the issue at hand.
If you have a remote team, they will only be as good as your training, and how they are trained onsite. Your own training will fit in with the expectations that you want to meet for your customers. However, having a skilled mentor onsite, ensures somebody is always available. No matter how good your training is, situations arise. Yes, you can message backwards and forwards, but feedback from an onsite leader is instantaneous.
A good leader empowers their team to be the best they can be. If that means passing on knowledge to do the job right, this is what a good leader will do. If we are only as good as our mentor, ensure you are the best mentor you can be. Be onsite. Be available. Lead.