The job of a leader is as much about assigning responsibilities as it is about taking them.
The job of a leader is as much about assigning responsibilities as it is about taking them. As a leader, are you comfortable enough to let the people around you take more responsibility when they are ready? Do you have a hard time deciphering when the people are ready to handle more responsibilities? During my Coaching Interventions with professionals from a variety of organizations, I have noticed that almost everyone wants to be considered as a ‘partner’ and not an employee. While they want a bi – directional flow of information, leaders don’t often wish to loosen up their control.
A Leader needs to step back at times
Leader soon realized that letting others take decisions and not putting all efforts to be right every time would change his image. For the next one year, every time he was about to speak, he took a breath and contemplated, Is this thing worth it?
I know of a leader who was a much-respected figure in his organization. However, he was given a feedback that he comes across as an opinionated and stubborn leader. He soon realized that letting others take decisions and not putting all efforts to be right every time would change his image. For the next one year, every time he was about to speak, he took a breath and contemplated, ‘Is this thing worth it?’ He understood that over half of his comments, though right, weren’t worth it. He shifted his focus to empowering his employees and helping them assume ownership of decisions and took a step back from feeling the need for value addition every single time.
However, it isn’t possible for the leader to empower people to make good decisions. This is how a leader can empower other people.
As a leader, it is important to realize that the employees understand their jobs well and are aware of their functions and tasks. You must make a conscious decision to let them do their job. However, it isn’t possible for the leader to empower people to make good decisions. People need to empower themselves. The role of a leader is to prepare a decision-making environment and to provide them the knowledge to act upon the decisions made by them. This is how a leader can empower other people. It is a long process since people need to be left alone to achieve the results in order for them to feel empowered. As a leader, sometimes the best thing you can do is wait.