Here's the deal: no one builds something great alone.
Not Jesus, not the business legends, and not you—no one builds greatness alone. If you're trying to carry your entire marketing strategy on your back, it's not noble—it's naïve.
Let's look at Jesus. He could have snapped His fingers and accomplished His mission solo. But He didn't. Instead, He chose a team—a ragtag group of fishermen, tax collectors, and everyday Humans—and turned them into a movement. That, my friend, is leadership and empowerment at its finest.
If you're serious about building a marketing team that doesn't just execute tasks but moves mountains, you need to take a page out of Jesus' playbook. Let's break it down.
Jesus didn't roll into Jerusalem and post a "Now Hiring" flyer. He didn't look for the most qualified candidates on paper. Instead, He handpicked individuals based on their potential, not their perfection.
Think about that for a second. Your marketing team doesn't need to be filled with polished resumes or rockstar credentials. What you need are Humans who:
Believe in your mission. Skills can be taught, but passion and alignment are non-negotiable.
Bring diverse perspectives. Jesus' disciples came from wildly different backgrounds, creating a team that could connect with various audiences.
Are willing to learn and grow. You're building a team for the long haul, not just a one-off campaign.
Start looking for potential, not just experience. The best marketing teams are built with a mix of fresh thinkers and seasoned experts who share the same vision.
When we hired Jorge onto our team as a HubSpot expert, he only had a couple of HubSpot certifications under his belt. However, his skills aligned perfectly with our vision because he brought a unique blend of enthusiasm and curiosity that matched our mission to provide exceptional services to clients. But we saw massive potential in him—his passion, eagerness to learn, and alignment with our mission stood out above everything else. Fast forward to today, Jorge has amassed over 50 HubSpot certifications and has become a crucial part of the services we provide to our clients. In fact, we often hear from others that we "won the lottery" when we brought him onto the team. Jorge's journey proves that hiring for potential, not just qualifications can transform your team and your business.
When Jesus called His disciples, He didn't give them a to-do list. He gave them a vision: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). He cast a bold, compelling future that inspired action.
What's the vision you're casting for your marketing team? If your pitch is "Help us run some Facebook ads," don't be surprised if you get a half-hearted effort. Humans crave purpose. They want to know their work matters.
How to Cast a Vision That Inspires
Paint a clear picture of what success looks like—for your brand and for your team members.
Connect the team's efforts to the more significant impact your business is making globally.
Make it about more than metrics. Sure, conversions matter, but how is your brand changing lives?
When your team buys into the vision, they'll show up with more creativity, energy, and commitment than you thought possible.
Jesus didn't just send His disciples out empty-handed. He taught, mentored, and gave them everything they needed to succeed (hello, miracles, and parables).
Your team can't deliver great results without the right tools and training. Just as you wouldn't send a carpenter to build a house without a hammer, don't expect your marketers to crush it without the right resources.
Here's What Empowerment Looks Like
Training: Invest in their growth. This could be through courses, workshops, or even hiring experts to improve their skills.
Tools: Provide them with the software, platforms, and systems to make their work easier and more effective.
Autonomy: Teach them the "why" behind your actions, and trust them to execute without micromanaging.
When we introduced Descript as a new video editing software to our team, it was a game-changer. Seth and Noah took on the challenge of learning this powerful tool, and their efforts have enabled us to create content faster than ever before. By mastering Descript, they've streamlined our workflows by automating transcription, simplifying edits, and enabling faster content repurposing across platforms.
These efficiencies have allowed us to produce more high-quality content in less time, directly supporting our purpose: to be the best educators for the community we've built. This investment in tools and training has catalyzed growth, allowing us to expand our impact and serve our audience more effectively.
Let's get real for a second. If your only focus is ROI, you will burn out your team. People aren't machines. Jesus built deep, authentic relationships with His disciples. He didn't just care about what they could do for the mission; He cared about them as individuals.
How to Build Strong Relationships with Your Team
Celebrate Wins Together: Whether it's a successful campaign or a small milestone, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate.
Check In Regularly: Don't wait for performance reviews to have meaningful conversations. Ask how they're doing—not just at work, but in life.
Lead with Empathy: Your team will face challenges, miss deadlines, and make mistakes. Approach every situation with empathy and solutions instead of blame.
When your team feels supported and valued, they'll go above and beyond because they want to, not because they have to.
Here's something Jesus did brilliantly: He created a team where everyone had a unique role but worked toward the same goal. Peter wasn't competing with John to see who could convert the most people. They were in it together.
Build a Culture Where Collaboration Thrives
Ideas flow freely without fear of judgment.
Success is celebrated as a team, not just by individuals.
Everyone understands their role and how it fits into the bigger picture.
Pro Tip: Use regular team meetings to encourage cross-pollination of ideas. Let your social media expert share insights with your content strategist, or get your email marketer brainstorming with your SEO specialist. Collaboration sparks creativity.
When Liz and I collaborated to bring a half-baked framework from a simple Google Doc to the world, magic happened. Initially, the framework was just a rough collection of ideas, and we faced challenges organizing and refining it into something impactful. Liz's dedication and insights helped shape those raw thoughts into a cohesive and actionable model.
We refined and expanded it together, turning a mere idea into the Superhuman Framework, now recognized globally. With the help of my AI assistant, we took it even further, creating a resource that continues to inspire and guide others. That framework, known as the Superhuman Framework, would likely have remained an idea without Liz's dedication and collaboration.
Jesus didn't just train His disciples to follow but to lead. He knew He wouldn't be around forever, so He empowered them to carry the mission forward.
How to Empower Leadership in Your Team
Delegate Real Responsibility: Give them ownership over projects and let them make decisions.
Encourage Independent Thinking: Don't just provide answers—ask questions that make them think critically.
Invest in Mentorship: Be the leader who directs and develops.
When you create leaders within your team, you build a marketing machine that can adapt, innovate, and grow without constant hand-holding.
Here's the thing about the disciples—they didn't get it right overnight. There were failures, doubts, and setbacks along the way. Sound familiar?
Your marketing team won't be perfect from day one. They'll need time to grow, make mistakes, and learn. And as their leader, your job isn't just to push for results—it's to create an environment where growth can flourish.
Stay patient, stay committed, and remember to remind your team of the bigger picture when the going gets challenging.
It's time to stop trying to do it all yourself. It's time to stop hiring warm bodies to check boxes. And it's time to stop leading your marketing,g team, focusing on tasks instead of purpose.
Follow the example of the most excellent team builder in history. Recruit with intention. Cast a vision that inspires. Equip, empower, and build relationships. And when the lions (aka your competitors) come for your brand, you'll have a team ready to roar right back.
So, what's your next move? What bold step will you take today to start building the marketing dream team your business deserves?
Because here's the truth: Great leaders don't just create great strategies—they make great teams. And great teams change the game.