Only the leader or “chief” really knows how to get the work done… Or do they? Maybe the leaders know the least, and their employees or teams know the most. Which is it? Which should it be?
A recent situation with a client raised this issue. The advantage this organization has is strong leaders with years of experience and depth of knowledge about their business. That’s also their biggest disadvantage.
If you are the leader, and know the most, and continue to tell everyone you know the most, who will step up and challenge your opinions? Not many. If you continue to tout your own prowess, skill, decades of experience and know-how, people won’t need to help you because in their mind, you already have it under control and aren’t interested in anyone else’s thoughts.
So what happens? You wonder why no one else is helping with any of the work. You sit in your “leader office” and stew about the committees or teams in place that aren’t making decisions or taking action. Or complain that your staff won’t speak up. Or about the fact that the other community leaders involved with your organization won’t step up and do anything.
They don’t have to… remember? YOU keep telling them that you know everything so they begin thinking, “Well, why am I here? I don’t need to participate in this. He/She has it covered.”
See how you, the leader, are creating your own reality?
The good news is you can change your reality by changing your leadership style, how you communicate, and address the expectations of your teams. The change begins with knowing yourself and how your actions as the leader create the outcomes.
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Sought out as the voice of reason, Debra Kunz, MBA is a catalyst for deliberate change in business, life and relationships. She consults, facilitates, speaks, coaches and writes about her distinctive methods for better decisions, effective changes, and deliberate leadership.