For as long as I can remember, the roles between leaders and their players are that players try to get their leaders to believe in them enough to give them a shot at new things. Leaders push back and players exaggerate their belief that they can do whatever it is.

But if you want to surprise your players, try believing in them MORE than they believe in themselves. Give them new, difficult assignments BEFORE they think they are ready. Let them know you see something special in them that they need to bring out. Remind them that even if they fail, they will grow as a result and your job is to grow them into what they can become. 

When you shift the direction of who is convincing who, you have the power to call them up to what you know they can become, over time and with practice and some non-fatal failures.

Hall of Famers don’t become great by playing it safe. They become hall of famers when their coach pushes them to unleash the greatness that is within them.