I am lucky to get the chance, through LeaderLine, to coach some amazing leaders from within the sporting sector. One common theme that I have spotted is, how easy it is to find yourself doing the jobs of the people below you.
“Say what Gill?”
Well, like so many #leaders in so many industries, sometimes it is quicker and easier when something needs doing, to do it yourself! Also, for some leaders in the industry, who have grown and been around the #sport and the organisation for a long time, they know how to do things and how to do them well.
“So that’s good then, because things will be done well – isn’t it???”
NO, NO, NO and also NO! Here’s what suffers when you don’t spot this and sort it out!
Your reports – by you doing it or even just by you telling your reports what you would do, it means your reports don’t have to make their brains show up. They can just do what you say, but they don’t feel #ownership or #engagement to making it a success. By finding ways to make their brains show up through asking them questions, you will see the benefit 100 fold. Yes, they might not do it your way but by them owning the answer they have come up with, the outcome will be better.
You – I won’t do the analogy about the fishing (although I love Frankie Boyles’ take on it “Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day. Give him a fishing rod and he can feed himself. Alternatively, don’t poison the fishing waters, abduct his great-grandparents into slavery, then turn up 400 years later on your gap year talking a lot of sh*te about fish”) But it is totally true that if you make your team do their own thinking and own their plans for how to get things done, then you can get on with your own job! As leaders, a big part of your jobs are the things that are important, but not urgent and these things need scheduling and time for you to do your thinking and planning on.
The Business – by getting your team all being productive using their brains and taking responsibility for their own work and by you being able to be strategic and think about where next and what next, the business will benefit in every way. Organisations who get this right see high productivity, high creativity, talent that is developing constantly and employees who feel empowered to go the extra mile for themselves, for their colleagues and for your members, customers and partners.
Why wouldn’t you want to sort this? Do your job not the jobs of the people below you!
Need help to practice the art of making your team’s brains show up? Contact #LeaderLine for some #coaching support.
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